Ira was operated for Adenoids 3 days back at Cumbala Hill Hospital. Here she is seen sitting scared in the waiting area outside the operation theatre. I have never been inside an operation theatre ever. So I was clueless how to deal with her fear. She held Maya's hand to feel better.Suddenly Patch Adams and Munnabhai MBBS made sense to me.
Why are all hospitals are designed to be patient unfriendly? Infact they are absolutely child unfriendly. There is nothing in there that can cheer up a kid and reassure him/her about the surroundings. The doctors are dressed in green kurtas and trousers with masks on their faces and caps on their heads. They look like zombies moving around.
Worst was when the doctors told Ira that she has to accompany them alone into the operation theatre. Ira's face turned pale and white. I was disgusted with this lackadaisical approach. Actually the hospital staff and doctors were extremely nice to us but I am not sure if they had any idea about the impact their approach is having on a small kid. To make matters worse, Ira was not given even a drop of water for over 11 hours.
Imagine a hospital where the walls are filled with cartoons, there are balloons flying all over, the doctors are dressed like mickey mouses (or something similar) and the kid is playfully taken on to a kid friendly hospital bed? I am sure it can make life a whole lot easier for the kids and their parents.
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3 comments:
Children's hospitals is the way to go. Coincidentally saw a few in Hyderabad last week.
It is sad that most doctors are clueless when it comes to dealing with kids and their emotions. They seem ignorant or too busy to analyze the impact of their approach on kids and worried parents. I am glad that you have talked about this with the seriousness it deserves.
It is a touching story
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