LAHORE, May 10: Three anaesthesia machines of the ear, nose and throat (ENT) operation units of the Mayo Hospital, went out of order about six months ago, have not yet been repaired causing untold problems and distress to patients needing surgery.

A long list of pending surgical cases reveals that ENT patients admitted in the general wards for days, were returned from operation theatres at the eleventh hour when anaesthetists did not take the risk of allowing surgery due to defective machines.

Three of the four anaesthesia machines in the hospital are currently out of order while the remaining one is devoted to extreme emergency cases.

“We alerted the administration when the first machine went out of order six months ago, and sought alternate arrangements before all the machines went out of order, which eventually did happen,” maintained a senior ENT doctor who requested not to be named.

Also on condition of anonymity, the theatre staff said they had brought the situation into the knowledge of administration who paid no attention to resolve the crisis.

The situation, however, afforded a ‘golden opportunity’ to ENT surgeons to lure more patients to their private clinics where facilities are available to against exorbitant rates.

Punjab Health Minister Dr Tahir Ali Javed admitted that patients were suffering, but assured that the machines would be replaced shortly.—APP