Mysuru: Due to lack of adequate infrastructural facilities at the Cheluvamba hospital, in-house patients including the pregnant and new mothers are forced to sleep on the floor. On becoming aware of the pathetic conditions prevailing at the hospital Chamaraja Constituency MLA Nagendra paid a visit to the hospital and took stock of the situation.
Besides the basic infrastructure, the hospital also faces shortage of staff. Out of the 216 posts sanctioned, based on patients visits some four to five decades ago only 74 are working while the remaining142 posts are vacant.
During his nearly one hour visit to the hospital, he came to know about various problems faced by doctors, nurses and patients in the hospital. He found that many of the in-house patients, most of them being pregnant women sleep on floors due to the shortage of beds. RMO Gangamma briefed Nagendra about prevailing condition and facilities at the hospital and also on the steps taken to improve the hospital further.
Nagendra said, “I have found that there is a shortage of beds to treat in-house patients at the hospital. I will convene a meeting with the hospital authorities and gather more information on this and write a letter to the Health Minister and urge them to address the issue. During my inspection, I found that several pregnant women have to sleep on the floor with their newborn babies, and hence I have instructed the authorities to immediately buy 100 cots and ensure that each patient is provided with a bed. The unhygienic conditions will only increase the chances of patients getting an infection, especially during monsoon. During the inspection, I also came to know that bathroom in ward 4 is in pathetic condition for the last two months, and have told authorities to set it right immediately. On the treatment aspect, everything has been found in order at the hospital.”
Sanctioned posts need to be doubled to overcome staff shortage
The posts sanctioned at the hospital were on the basis of patient visits nearly three to four decades back. Presently around 250 patients visit the hospital daily on an average basis. But the staff and infrastructure have declined due to which the doctors and other staffs, as well as patients, are put to a lot of inconvenience. Both the Grade I Nursing Superintendent posts are vacant, out of the 112 group D posts 103 are vacant, though there are two ambulances there are no permanent drivers, among 17 sanctioned Junior Health Assistant Post 12 are vacant, among seven sanctioned Second division assistant posts six are vacant, out of 5 Grade II Nursing Superintendent posts all the five are vacant. At the outset most of the posts are vacant, thereby increasing the workload on existing employees.
Following Medical Council directions, says Gangamma, RMO
Clarifying on the issue of the beds, RMO Gangamma said, “We need to follow MCI guidelines since it is a medical college hospital. As per the guidelines, some distance needs to be maintained between two beds. This can’t be violated by getting the beds closer. However, we try to provide bed to patients by accommodating them in different rooms.” Further, he said that owing to lack of staff at the hospital several problems are being faced. This will be minimised if more staffs are given.
