Patients praise KSH’s burn care, seek more specialists, beds

KHULNA, Aug 30: Patients receiving treatment at the Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit of Khulna Specialised Hospital (KSH) have expressed satisfaction with the care they receive but urged authorities to deploy more specialist doctors and make all approved beds operational.

Patients and relatives praised the doctors and nurses for their sincerity and behaviour. They said an additional specialist would help ensure uninterrupted services.

Mohammad Delwar Hossain, who has been receiving treatment at the unit for four months, said his condition had improved significantly. However, he said it was not always possible to see the unit’s only specialist.

A female patient said she was receiving good treatment but believed another specialist was needed because it was difficult for one doctor to manage the entire unit alone. A patient’s relative, Al Amin, also called for an additional specialist.

Malati Das, nursing in-charge of the unit, told The Daily Observer that patients from several districts, including areas far from Khulna, come to the hospital for treatment.

“Currently, only one specialist is working in the unit. When the doctor is on leave or absent for any reason, services are somewhat disrupted,” she said, adding that more specialists would improve treatment.

Hospital Director Dr Sheikh Abu Shaheen said the unit has approval for 35 beds, but only 20 are operational because of inadequate space.
“There is no shortage of nursing staff, but there is a shortage of specialist doctors,” he said, adding that more specialists and medical officers are needed.

Established in Goalkhali in 2010 with three departments, the hospital now has eleven. The Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit of the hospital treats burn injuries, post-burn complications and physical deformities, diabetic infections of the hands and feet, and other complex conditions requiring surgery.