Srinagar:The Bone & Joint Hospital at Barzulla in Srinagar, one of the Valley’s vital healthcare facilities catering to accident and trauma patients, is grappling with a severe parking crisis, leaving attendants of patients distressed and frustrated.
Attendants who rush the hospital with emergency cases say the shrinking premises no longer accommodate their vehicles. With no designated parking available for visitors, attendants are compelled to park their vehicles on the roadside, often adding to traffic congestion and causing further inconvenience.
Several attendants alleged that instead of extending help, the hospital security staff frequently misbehaves with patients and their families. “We are already under stress while bringing accident victims here. On top of that, we have to face rude behaviour from the security guards who do not allow us to even wait inside for a few minutes,” a couple of attendants told the news agency Kashmir News Trust.
Adding to the problem, a significant portion of the hospital premises is reportedly occupied by vehicles belonging to hospital employees. Attendants complain that even when space is available, they are denied entry, while staff vehicles remain parked inside for hours. “The entire parking lot looks like an exclusive space for hospital staff. Attendants bringing patients are left to struggle outside on the road,” alleged an elderly attendant.
The Bone & Joint Hospital, which remains crowded throughout the day due to its status as the Valley’s only specialised orthopaedic care centre, witnesses a steady influx of trauma, accident and emergency patients. In such circumstances, attendants argue that lack of parking facilities not only adds to their ordeal but can also prove critical in medical emergencies when every minute counts.
The attendants voiced concern, calling for immediate intervention. “Hospitals are meant to provide relief, not additional stress. The administration must streamline parking arrangements and ensure attendants bringing patients are given priority inside hospital premises.”
Despite repeated complaints, attendants say the authorities have failed to address the parking mess. Many feel that a long-term solution lies in expanding hospital premises and creating a structured parking facility exclusively for attendants and emergency vehicles.
The issue has sparked growing public resentment, with calls for the Health and Medical Education Department to intervene urgently and restore order at the busy hospital. [KNT]
