PGI nurses go on mass CL

The nurses were demanding implementation of child care leave for female staff,an end to deduction of various allowances admissible to staff members during their leave period (such as maternity leave and childcare leave) and changes in designation. The PGI Nursing Association called off the strike late in the evening after a meeting between their representatives and the PGI was fruitful and their demands met.

While the PGI authorities claimed that there was no disruption in patient care as the Institute had already made contingency plans,patients were indeed inconvenienced with many even having to go back from the hospital. Owing to the absence of nurses,essential health services were crippled leading to delays in surgeries,ward care and PGI Intensive Care Unit (ICU) services. “We apologise to the patients and their relatives. We had to resort to such a measure due to the autocratic attitude of the PGIMER administration as we were not left with any option except going on mass casual leave,” said PGI Nursing Association President Lakhvinder Singh.

The Institute put nursing students and administrative staff on the job of providing patient care and surgeries were being done on an urgency basis. The number of surgeries performed today was less than half the average daily figure. On an average,about 200-220 major and minor surgeries are performed at the Institute. But today only 46 major surgeries were performed and about an equal number of minor surgeries.

Ajay,who had suffered a fracture in his leg after he had an accident,was told to come on another day for follow-up. There were many patients like him who had to be asked to come again in the absence of nursing staff,as they are the ones who generally do the follow-up of surgeries and take post-operative care. Many patients were however,uncertain,about when to come again. “ I was told to come today after two months but when I arrived here,I got to know about the strike. Now,I have not been given any specific date for coming again”,rued Nirmala Devi from Himachal Pradesh.

PGI spokesperson Manju Wadwalkar said,“The services were managed with the help of willing nurses and students of the National Institute of Nursing Education. Emergency services of all centres including the main emergency wing of Nehru Hospital were functional as on any other day. OPD services remained unaffected and consultations were provided to about 5,900 patients in different OPDs.”

Meanwhile,many nursing students who were put on duty were seen complaining. “We are here since 8 am and have been told to work till 10 pm. In the absence of any expertise and even any training in handling so many patients,it is so difficult for us to sustain and manage things in in the current situation,” said a nursing student requesting anonymity.