PESHAWAR: Most of the people shifted to Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar after a suicide attack on mosque at Malik Saad Shaheed Police Lines received treatment for fractured bones at orthopaedic ward of the health facility.

The 1750-bed hospital received about 162 people with multiple wounds and 84 dead. Fifty people were admitted to orthopaedic wards, nine to neuro-surgery, eight to general surgery ward and 12 underwent chest intubation.

“Most of the patients have been sent home after their recovery with the advice for follow-ups while 15 are still admitted for their surgeries and reconstruction procedures at the general surgery and plastic surgery units of the hospital,” LRH spokesperson Mohammad Asim, told Dawn.

He said that none of the injured worshippers was referred to other hospitals. He added that LRH staff had more than two-decade experience of dealing with the victims of bomb blasts, suicide attacks and natural calamities.

Mr Asim said that a total of 151 blood bags were issued to the injured people, mostly policemen, from hospital bank. “Our doctors are getting invitation from the organisers of international seminars and symposiums where they share their experiences regarding management of trauma patients,” he added.

A senior surgeon at the hospital told Dawn that the staff had become used to receiving wounded people from the sites of the bomb blasts owing to which the ratio of mortalities was next to nil. “First, we carry out priority surgical procedures and stoppage of bleeding and later focus on other issues of blast victims. Many patients will be operated on for reconstruction of hands and limbs and other major problems as per protocols,” he added.

He said that more than 100 injured were discharged within 24 hours due to timely medical care provided by the doctors, nurses, paramedics and pharmacists. “Soon after the mass emergencies, our staffers including doctors, nurses and paramedics are in the habit of reaching the accident and emergency department of the hospital to manage the injured people, he added.

The surgeon said that not a single complaint of non-availability of doctors, nurses, medicines and blood was lodged. “During the past seven years, we have developed a whole new shape of specialties at the accident and emergency department, the largest one in the country which can accommodate over 400 patients at one time,” he added.

He said that emergency department of the hospital was headed by trauma specialist where all the facilities including operation theatres, blood bank, pharmacy, CT scan, ultrasound and X-ray facility and pathology were available under one roof.

“During the first 24 hours, we have given free medicines worth Rs2.6 million to the wounded people. They have received free implants, blood and surgical disposable free of cost,” he said.

He said that former cardiothoracic surgeon Prof Aamir Bilal, who played important role in upgradation of services at the hospital, used to visit international seminars and symposiums on invitation of organisers and shared his experiences with the health experts.

The surgeon said that that few years ago, he made a presentation regarding trauma management in Geneva where people from about 50 countries showed keen interest in it. He paid tributes to Safwat Ghayur, a popular police officer, died in a terrorist attack in 2010 in Peshawar.

He said that endless wave of terrorism in the province resulted in huge destruction and killing of police officers but at the same time, they upgraded facilities and skills of the health professionals to manage the trauma incidents effectively.

Published in Dawn, February 6th, 2023