Mumbai: KEM nurses protest over rest space, staffing issues, get assurance

Nurses, after receiving an assurance of resolutions to their demands, from the hospital administration. Pic/By Special Arrangement

Nurses at KEM Hospital gathered outside the dean's office on Thursday, alleging long-standing neglect of staff welfare. They remained there for nearly two hours, till the dean met them, assuring that concerns would be addressed. The trigger was an instruction to vacate a night resting station used by labour ward nurses. Union representatives said the administration sidelining nursing issues was not new. Ranjana, a nurse union secretary, said the union represents around 300 nurses at KEM and claimed the biggest lapse was the administration's failure to address concerns promptly. mid-day contacted the Dean's Office and Medical Superintendent for comment, but received no response.

What made nurses upset
. Alleged instruction to hand over keys to resting station
. Nurses said the move was made without consultation
. Issue escalated when the Dean did not meet them promptly

Four key demands
. No shift of night resting station
. Option to cut short the 10-day leave to rejoin early, ease workload
. Expansion of the Matron's office to add PCs and streamline attendance
. Recruitment of new nurses as new hospital sections open

Alleged grievances
. Useful nursing storage rooms vacated for less essential functions
. Nursing student quarters are shared with others
. Contract nurses are paid less; salaries are often delayed

Feb 26
Day the nurses gathered