A sense of vulnerability looms large over healthcare staff owing to inadequate security at public hospitals
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The police on Thursday filed an FIR against a 16-year-old girl who had allegedly slapped a nurse at the Bhabha hospital in Kurla. The incident sparked protests by healthcare workers at the BMC-run facility and also put the focus back on how the healthcare staff in public hospitals feel vulnerable.
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Mohini Mhatre, the nurse, told the police that the patient’s relatives were asked to wait outside while the staff carried out sanitation work inside the women’s ward. However, the patient’s behaviour became aggressive and she started shouting and verbally abusing the nurse. “She got discharged against medical advice and then walked in with her relatives and slapped me,” Mhatre told the police.
In light of the incident, Prakash Devdas, head of the health workers’ union, wrote to health officers and civic authorities highlighting the need for additional security staff and protocols. “Changes in security management and determining the number of people allowed to visit patients along with fixed visiting hours are necessary measures that the BMC must implement,” he said in the letter.
This is not an isolated incident. “Last year, a doctor was attacked at the hospital. Such instances have also occurred in other BMC-run health facilities. There is a problem of security and despite flagging this lacuna multiple times, the BMC has not provided adequate manpower,” said Madhvi Churi, from the Municipal Health Service Employees Union.
This is also something another nurse, who retired in 2022, told mid-day. “It all started when security staff were taken in on a contractual basis. There is a shortage of security personnel across all facilities. The ones who are there are not well-trained and are easily scared in the face of volatile situations,” said retired nurse Gracy, who has worked in Bhabha and Kasturba hospitals.
Dr Sudhakar Shinde, additional municipal commissioner (health), said, “We are taking the incident seriously but the patient was a minor in this case. We will be focusing on increasing security at hospitals.” He added that there would enforce rules concerning visiting hours more stringently. “We are expediting recruitment for security staff,” he said.
16 years
Age of girl who ‘slapped’ nurse
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