Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Wednesday expressed serious concern over lack of trauma care facilities in peripheral hospitals of Kashmir valley because of which precious lives are lost.“Absence of trained staff and equipment to deal with trauma patients is costing lives,” said DAK President Dr Nisar ul Hassan in a communique.“The peripheral hospitals lack trauma specialists, anesthetists, blood banks, intensive care units which are essential to handle critically injured patients,” he said.Dr Nisar said every trauma patient is referred to tertiary care hospitals in Srinagar.
“Majority of these patients die because they are unable to reach Srinagar within the “golden hour” which is crucial for survival in a trauma patient,” he said.“Time makes the difference between life and death in trauma cases.”“For patients who require surgical intervention urgently, if they don’t get it immediately, they die,” he said.Dr Nisar said while prehospital care saves lives of injured patients, in Kashmir, there is no concept of this most important component of trauma care.“Lack of medical attention at injury site leads to the overwhelming proportion of deaths among injured patients,” he said.He further said the ambulances ferrying injured patients lack resuscitation equipment and trained staff. None of these ambulances are fitted with life-support systems rendering them no better than regular transport vehicles.“Trauma-related injuries remain one of the leading causes of death in the valley.”“Most of these deaths are due to airway management failure, respiratory failure or continuing haemorrhage that are preventable with appropriate prehospital care and immediate hospital emergency care,” Dr Nisar said.“It is very easily said that the person succumbed to injuries, but in reality, he dies due to lack of medical care,” he added.“Despite the repeated advocacy of trauma facilities in peripheries, no efforts have been made in this regard,” he rued.“It seems value of life has been lost in health care planning and policy,” lamented Dr Nisar. (GNS)