Letters

Alarm bells over National Hospital service

My father, R. M. L. Fernando, a medical doctor, was a patient in Room 9 of the Class 1 section (5th floor) at the National Hospital recently.

When I visited him on June 13, he told me that he wanted to drink some water and rang the bell several times but not a single attendant or nurse came to his room between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.

He was later informed that the bell was not functioning. If the bell was not functioning the patient should have been informed accordingly. He could have brought a bell. The nursing staff told me that it was not their responsibility to provide such care for the patient.

They said we should obtain the services of a special attendant.

My father is no more with us. However I hope that the authorities will take steps to ensure that better care is provided for patients at the National Hospital and that such incidents will never occur again.

Rohan Fernando

Mount Lavinia