Staff attendance in government hospitals increase as authorities indicate strict action

Mumbai:  Due to the fear of COVID-19, seven hundred nurses and ward boys of Municipal Corporation hospital stopped going for the work. But as authorities indicated strict action against them, they re-joined service. 

From last Thursday, 700 staff members of Municipal Corporation hospital stopped going for work because of COVID-19 fear. The commissioner of the corporation ordered them to re-join service within 72 hours. Dr Hemant Deshmukh, Dean of KEM (King Edward Memorial) hospital, started sending "show cause" notices from Monday to all the staff members who denied working in COVID-19 wards and remained absent for the work. Later on Tuesday, around 70% of the employees of Municipal Corporation were present, informed Suresh Kakani, Additional Commissioner.

As there was inadequate manpower present at Municipal Corporation Hospital many were complaining about it. Due to the absence of nurses and ward boys in COVID-19 patients' ward, doctors themselves had to handle everything over there. Regarding this, a video was viral by residential doctors of KEM hospital. 

KEM hospital has the strength to treat 550 patients. As their ward boys and nurses stopped working it created a lot of pressure on the hospital. A similar situation was observed at Sayan Hospital and Nayar hospital. Considering such conditions, by offering Rs.1000 per day, ward boys were appointed in COVID-19 ward. Now 1700 nurses will be appointed.

From Tuesday, 58 nurses, 110 ward boys and cleaners re-joined the service. Total 180 nurses and 300 fourth grade workers are working in COVID-19 ward. In each ward, on an average 6 nurses and 5 ward boys are appointed. Now totally, 900 nurses are working and 680 out of 950 fourth grade workers have joined the work. Some nurses are more than 55 years old and some are on leave for the pregnancy.

Till now 51 nurses have not responded to notices and they might be suspended. "From few days staff attendance have increased by 20 per cent", told Dr Hemant Dehsmukh, Dean, KEM Hospital.

"The attendance of staff in Nayar hospital has increased from 38 per cents to 60 per cents. To 495 ward boys and nurses "show cause" notice has been sent. In last 24 hours, 150 ward boys and 100 nurses joined the work." informed Dr Mohan Joshi, Dean, Nayar Hospital.

"In Sayan Hospital attendance of staff has increased from 40 per cents to 70 per cents. Now more than 250 workers, nurses, cleaners have joined the work", told Dr Ramesh Bharamal, Dean, Lokamanya Tilak Hospital.