PATIENTS BATTLING serious injuries were left on the mercy of junior doctors at the Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital on Thursday. Nurses and ward sisters of the hospital boycotted their work on Thursday to press for their 10-point demands.
Major surgeries were cancelled and patients' services were badly affected due to the strike.
Patients of general wards were seen seeking help of junior doctors and pharmacists to get treatment. Many patients were compelled to lie down on dirty and blood-stained bed sheets. They had to wait for injections and medicines for several hours, as most of the junior the doctors were busy handling emergency cases. Even attendants were found helpless to change the drip of patients.
But, it was mainly the serious patients admitted to the emergency ward who were at the receiving end of the apathy shown by the nurses. There was no one to change their dress and provide them pain killers. The surgery patients, especially small children, who have suffered major injuries had to lie on bare beds. They were not even provided clean bed sheets, which further exposed them to secondary infection. By afternoon, many serious patients were reportedly turned away by the hospital staff.
But, despite all the agony of patients, the nurses said they would continue to boycott work to press for their demands. "The strike will continue until major demand of repairing electricity lines and providing generator connection to the nurses' duty room is met," said Safia Khatun, president of the District Nurses' Association.
{{/usCountry}}But, despite all the agony of patients, the nurses said they would continue to boycott work to press for their demands. "The strike will continue until major demand of repairing electricity lines and providing generator connection to the nurses' duty room is met," said Safia Khatun, president of the District Nurses' Association.
{{/usCountry}}Safia Khatun said their demands also included cleaning choked sewer line passing through the residential quarters, regularisation of GPF accounts and release of arrears.
Moti Lal Nehru Medical College Principal Dr PC Saxena said poor patients were mainly suffering due to the nurses' agitation. "However, the assurance has been given to them for fulfilling their demands as soon as possible," he added.