Sans stretcher & defunct lift, woman delivers baby on hospital floor

Puri: In yet another glaring example of poor healthcare services in the State, a pregnant woman reportedly delivered a baby outside the lift of Puri District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) after her family members allegedly failed to get any stretcher to shift her to the ward of the hospital on Saturday night. Moreover, the lift was also out of order, sources said.

As per reports, Lekhani Baral, wife of Pradipta Baral of Sahardevpur area under Brahmagiri police limits in the district was rushed to the hospital after she complained of labour pain yesterday.

However, the family members of Lekhani could not find any attendant of the hospital or a stretcher to shift her to the ward inside mother and child (MCH) building. The lift was also not working due to some technical glitches.

Subsequently, Lekhani delivered a baby boy on the floor outside the elevator. Later, the hospital staff rushed to the spot and shifted her to the ward.  The condition of the mother and child is said to be stable, added reports.

Meanwhile, Puri Additional District Medical Officer (ADMO) Brajabandhu Das refuted the charges of medical negligence and said, “There was no negligence on the part of hospital staff as the woman delivered baby soon after she reached the hospital. We have informed the authorities regarding the technical problem in the lift.”