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Hospital's IVF Unit Closed Over a Year, Leaving Patients Stranded
21 Sep
Summary
- IVF services at Queen Mary's Hospital have been non-functional for over a year.
- The hospital handles nearly 1,000 outpatient visits daily, straining resources.
- A new 500-bed apex center for women and newborn care is planned.
In-vitro fertilisation (IVF) services at King George's Medical University's Queen Mary's Hospital have been non-functional for more than a year. This prolonged disruption is a significant concern for women seeking fertility treatment at the major government-run maternity hospital, with issues related to equipment and consumables procurement cited.
The hospital faces considerable pressure due to a daily outpatient footfall of nearly 1,000 patients. This high volume strains existing infrastructure, leading to reported difficulties in accessing medicines and implants through the Hospital Revolving Fund (HRF) store. Efforts are underway to ensure the availability of medicines by their salt names and available implants at the HRF to reduce patient expenses.
Further challenges include long queues at billing counters and a lack of dedicated shelter for patient attendants. To alleviate these pressures and address growing demand, the university is planning a new 500-bed apex centre for women and newborn care behind the existing hospital. This project has received state government approval, with a consultant appointed and drawings finalized, anticipating funding in the next budget.
