Translated material
“Covid, not Covid, all in one corridor”: at the clinic of the Medical Unit No. 2, the queue exceeded 200 people
At the clinic, medical unit No. 2, there is only one therapist. The queue exceeded 200 people. In the corridor: people with cold symptoms, someone who doesn’t feel the smell and may be a carrier of coronavirus, some who have already recovered from Covid and have come to the clinic for other issues. Many have been at the clinic since eight in the morning. Those who arrived a little later are no longer sure that they will have time to get an appointment - the therapist works until 20:00.
Photo: Alexander Mazurov Natalya Kuzmenko contacted our editorial office. I have been standing in line to see a therapist since eight in the morning.
“On October 22, I called the doctor; I had a fever,” says Natalya. — On the evening of the 23rd, the doctor called back and promised a prescription, but that was all over: the prescription was not delivered, the test was not taken. I started taking antibiotics on my own and treating myself with whatever I needed. Today I came because I’m worried about sick leave.
Natalya Kuzmenko Photo: Alexander MazurovWith smears, without smears, with ARVI symptoms, without symptoms, everyone sits in one place. The wardrobe doesn't work, there aren't enough chairs, there's no distance to speak of.
Access to the only therapist's office is on a first-come, first-served basis. But those who do get to see a therapist will then have to stand in another line - for a stamp to close the sick leave. The queue for printing is also based on coupons; patients take them in advance.
A woman stands next to the register, almost without a voice - her throat hurts a lot. Only patients with a fever are not in the queue; they are admitted in another wing of the clinic.
Photo: Alexander MazurovRoman Polygalov has also been in line since eight, he needs to cover his sick leave. He was asymptomatically ill with coronavirus. Roman has now recovered - the test is negative.
Roman Polygalov Photo: Alexander MazurovI called the reception desk and they said I needed to see a therapist. Although I heard that they are now doing this electronically, I was told that presence is required.
Vasily Kolbin fell ill at the end of last week, his temperature rose to 38.5 °C. I tried to call an ambulance, but they didn’t come. On Monday they promised to open a sick leave without him. Whether it was opened or not, he doesn’t know yet. He sits in line to prescribe further treatment. There is no temperature, there is a slight cough and he does not smell.
Vasily Kolbin Photo: Alexander MazurovBefore our arrival, Natalya complained to the secretary of the chief physician of the medical unit. There they told her that they would pass on the information. Just before we left, a second therapist appeared at the clinic and took five people from the queue.
Natalya Kuzmenko was able to get an appointment with a therapist only after five and a half hours. She was granted sick leave, but was not tested for Covid. “To close the sick leave, you will have to go through this quest again.” In the office, the therapist told Natalya that there are currently not enough doctors in the medical unit, many are on sick leave.
Let us remind you that earlier Deputy Governor Ivan Deev reported about a shortage of medical personnel in the Tomsk region. It is planned to employ students and residents of Siberian State Medical University in the city hospitals.
Last week, Tomsk resident Tatyana, who spent four hours in line at the clinic of the 2nd medical unit, contacted the editor. The situation has not changed since then.