SHAH ALAM: When Wan Awateef admitted her 79-year-old grandmother to KPJ Selangor, she did not expect to be forced to bring her own water supply from home.
Awateef and her family members had to cart nine big bottles to her grandmother’s room as the hospital was affected by the current water supply disruption in Klang Valley.
“My grandmother was admitted yesterday afternoon but we were told by the staff that because there was no water supply, patients’ families had to bring their own.
“This was astonishing as it is a big hospital and it should have contingency plans and be prepared for water cuts,” she told NSTP when met today.
To add to the family’s woes, according to Awateef, the air conditioning system had also been turned off due to the water cut.
“So, not only do we have to bring our own water for my sickly grandmother, but we had to bring a portable fan as well.
“I guess because the air conditioning system uses water, it couldn’t be turned on.
“We admitted my grandmother here anyway because she needed the treatment the hospital provides,” she said.
A check at the hospital by NSTP today saw many carting water bottles.
Another visitor, who wished to be known only as Arif, questioned why the hospital management was not prepared for the water cut.
“It’s not like we were not informed of the water cut. Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) has already issued a list of affected areas and I’m sure Section 20 was listed as well,” he said.
KPJ Selangor is located in Section 20, Shah Alam.
When contacted, KPJ Selangor chief executive officer Farahiyah Badri said a back up plan was already in place to handle the water crisis.
“A contingency plan has already been implemented to ensure the comfort of patients and visitors.
“Portable fans have been placed in the wards and main locations of the hospital,” she said.
Farahiyah said the air conditioning system wasn’t functioning because it uses water as the cooling medium.
“Water has also been distributed to every ward manually and notices have also been placed strategically around the hospital,” she said.
Meanwhile, a Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital spokesman told NSTP they were not affected by the water cut.
“Although we were in the list that Syabas issued, thankfully, we still have water supply.
“However, if we do get affected, we have installed a number of water tanks for back up," she said.