Frontline workers, Vadodara: Overburdened but patient and resilient

Jigar Padhiyar, a 44-year-old resident of Vadodara, queued up with his two-year-old daughter and father at the Gotri Hospital to get their COVID tests done after his wife tested positive. In an interview with Our Vadodara, he talks about his experience with doctors and staff at the hospital.

As narrated, he reached the cramped lobby of the Gotri Hospital, stood in a queue of 10-15 people to get his two-year-old daughter’s, his father’s, and his test done. The first frontline worker he encountered was the security guard at the hospital. Appraising the security guard’s concerns, he said, “The guard came up to me, saw my two-year-old daughter and me standing in the sun, and recommended that I skip the line to get the doctor’s consultation as soon as possible.” However, Jigar, cognizant of the situation, decided to turn down the request and wait in the line instead.

Later, on his turn, the second frontline worker he came across was the test-taker. “The doctor thoroughly explained that testing a two-year-old might have complications. Yet, he referred me to a pediatrician for further consultation”, he said. After visiting the jam-packed pediatrician ward, he decided to not disturb the doctors and go ahead with the doctor’s recommendation of not testing his daughter.

At eight in the evening, his wife’s oxygen levels deteriorated suddenly. After calling several hospitals and failing to find beds at any of the hospitals, the family decided to take the patient to the Gotri Hospital roughly around 10:30 in the night. Referring to the “conventionally elaborate procedures” at the hospital, he said, “The doctor was prompt to check my wife and proposed that we admit her.” He added that on seeing him tired, the doctor assumed all the responsibilities, right from room allocation to winding up all the technical protocols. At midnight, the doctor also arranged for Jigar to be tested for COVID.

The fourth frontline worker was the parking lot manager, who excused Jigar of paying the parking fee after looking at him shuttling from the hospital repeatedly to get medicines and check up on his wife. Mentioning the fifth frontline worker, he said, “The respondent at the help desk, when I call, updates me on the status of my wife very patiently.” He added that the help desk has been efficient in resolving queries as well.

According to him, “The hospital and staff are overburdened by the lack of resources and the sudden rise in demand. However, contrary to the people’s belief, the workers have been working tirelessly to provide aid to the patients.”

While the hospitals have reached saturation, the workers are working round-the-clock to ensure the timely redressal of patients. Not only doctors, but other frontline workers like nurses, cleaners, security guards, peons, receptionists, help-desk respondents, parking lot managers, ambulance drivers, and interns have also been working relentlessly to help the patients in need.