Mumbai: Cooper Hospital nurses go on strike over severe staff shortage

The demonstration on Wednesday. PICS/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Nurses at Dr RN Cooper Municipal General Hospital, Vile Parle West, went on strike on Wednesday to raise their concerns regarding a lack of official staffing measures despite a "severe shortage of nursing staff" at the hospital.

Over 150 protest

A nurse union leader said the demonstration which saw participation by 150 nurses lasted more than eight hours, before it was called off around 4 pm after affirmations from the Director of Major Education and Major Hospital for BMC, Dr Shailesh Mohite. Hospital staff claimed no major service disruption took place during the protest. "Mohite-ji assured us over the phone that he will visit to solve our problem. We have halted the protest till then," said a protester.

Issues raised by nurses...

Nursing staff crunch: New wards opened without staff intake
Pending increments: No arrears of 6th/7th pay commission given
Pendency in administrative work: Nurses unable to update nominations, get permanency letters, get deposit refunds, and leave travel allowance
Inconvenience in taking leaves: Leaves not being sanctioned, child care leave short-terminated

Nurse Speak

A nurse requesting anonymity
‘We have been flagging this issue for years now, yet the BMC has not increased the number of nurses at our hospital while the departments have continued increasing. Every time we raise the issue, they give hollow affirmations and end up not solving the issue. This time we are keen to stand our ground until we receive some substantial instant relief. We won't accept mere promises'

Official Speak

Dr Chaya Shinde, dean, Hinduhrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Medical College and Dr RN Cooper Hospital
‘Partial presence of nursing staff ensured that hospital services weren't completely disrupted. The primary issue is the lack of staff and we have taken cognisance. Addition of new departments cannot be halted, so we are addressing the shortage of nursing staff alongside. I have already informed my superiors for both contractual and permanent appointments'

Leader Speak

Kalpana Gajula, general secretary, Noble Nursing Union
‘This is a very long-pending issue. Cooper only has 270 nurses while it should have at least 500. We have sent multiple letters over the years, including one this month and one around a month ago, yet there's no solution from the authorities. Nurses are forced to work without taking leaves, overwork at multiple wards, etc. Despite this, around five new wards were added to the hospital over the last year. Today, around 80 nurses had begun the strike around 7 am and around 150 participated by noon. Dr Mohite intervened and assured us a meeting today so the gathering dispersed'

At a glance…

Current departments: 21
Current nursing staff: 270
Ward additions: Five new wards opened in last year
Key demand: Increase Nursing staff or shut down new wards