Washing service dries hospitals' laundry at garbage dumping yard

Hospitalisedu00a0patients in the city may have something to fear when it comes to basic hygiene. It has been discovered that ward linen like aprons, blankets, lab coats, surgeon's gowns, male and female gowns, surgeon's suits and other medical clothes from several hospitals across Ghorpadi after washing are dried by a private laundry near Bharat Forge in BT Kawade Road on an open ground that is partly a garbage dump-yard and which is also used by small children for defaecating.

Upon enquiring with concerned citizens, it was learnt that this was an everyday spectacle as the laundry uses the filthy ground for drying clothes because of lack of space on its own premises.u00a0"The laundry keepers spread out hospital clothes in the dump-yard when, ironically, utmost hygiene should be maintained with such clothes. It can be very dangerous for patients," said a resident from a nearby complex on condition of anonymity.

Another resident, who also requested anonymity, said the laundry refused to listen to their advice. "We tried talking to the owners earlier but to no avail. They say since there is no additional space they are forced to use the 500 sq ft ground. Our only concern is that instead of getting cured the patients will face more health hazards if they wear such clothes," said the resident.

The laundry unit, which starts work at 7 am, brings the clothing from several hospitals in Ghorapdi area in a tempo for washing around 11 am.u00a0The laundrymen said that all hospital linen was washed separately and laid out for drying in the sun. But authorities at the main hospitals in Ghorpadi said their hospital clothing was washed only in the hospital's private laundry.u00a0

Dr K Ingle, in-charge of Shreenath Hospital, stated: "This can be dangerous for patients. We don't give our clothes to a private laundry; we wash clothes on our terrace."u00a0Dr Amul Rajore, in-charge of Sai Hospital, said: "We wash our clothes in an in-house laundry." u00a0

Dr R K Mantri, director of Mantri Hospital, said: "The hospital clothes are being washed at the site for the past four years and nothing has happened. We can't say the patients have got additional diseases because of the laundry clothes they wear. I can't comment further."

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!