Health services hit as nurses continue stir

Tribune News Service

Patiala, February 8

Following the ongoing strike by nurses, ancillary staff and Class IV employees, authorities at the Government Rajindra Hospital seem to have failed to restore health services on the third consecutive day here today. Patients are at the receiving end as services at the hospital have been paralysed for the past 3 days.

However, Medical Superintendent Rajan Singla assured that the health services would resume in the next 24 hours, but nothing much has been done in this regard.

Singla said: “All emergency services are in place with the help of student nurses. Moreover, I can’t take action at my level because the protesters are continuously in touch with higher officials.”

Despite repeated assurances from the authorities, contractual staff nurses continued their stir. Officials from the police and fire departments remained on their toes as nurses continued their protest atop the building of the Medical Superintendent.

Around 12 women Punjab Police personnel were deputed on the building’s rooftop.

According to sources, the authorities are reportedly scared of taking action against the protesters. Moreover, nurses and Class IV employees had also locked the Operation Theatre (OT) on Thursday. The OT was restored on Friday morning only after the intervention by police officials.

A senior doctor, on condition of anonymity, said: “We, doctors at the hospital, agree that they have every right to protest, but to highjack health services for three consecutive days is inhuman. The authorities should strictly deal with the protesters.”

Meanwhile, the protesters said they would not join their duties until they were assured regularisation.

Karamjit Kaur Aulakh, president, Punjab Contractual Nursing and Ancillary Staff Association, said: “We will remain off duty until we get regularisation letters. We have been working on a contractual basis since long. Therefore, we have no other option, but to stage a protest.”