Doon Hospital faces shortage of nurses

Dehradun, April 6
A chaos-like situation prevails at Doon Hospital due to the shortage of nurses. The nurses on duty are being forced to do double shifts and if the situation persists, the authorities may not be able to operate new units as planned.

The hospital has now requisitioned to the Health Department its requirement for at least 20 nurses to run the newly built neurosurgery unit.

An equal number of ward boys will also be required to get the unit going.

“Our problem has become more acute after eight nurses were relieved for undertaking studies in BSc (nursing). Further the contract of four nurses was not renewed by the department. A few nurses are on maternity leave. Besides, we will need 20 nurses to run the neurosurgery operation theatre that is being readied,” said Dr BC Pathak, Principal Superintendent, Doon Hospital. Once the operation theatre for neurosurgery becomes operational, Doon Hospital will have to provide round-the-clock services of nurses in addition to the ENT operation theatre, orthopaedic operation theatre and general operation theatre.

Last year, Doon Hospital had gone ahead and made operational ICU requiring one nurse per bed.

In contrivance of the Indian Nursing Council norms, the hospital authorities entrusted one nurse with the responsibility of two beds.

The problem is expected to further intensify once the authorities begin setting up separate units for diabetic patients, which the hospital plans to set up in the future. “The patients suffering from lifestyle diseases require specialised care. Unless we overcome the shortage of nurses, it will be difficult to run new units,” said Dr DP Joshi, general secretary, Provincial Medical and Health Services, Uttarakhand.

While the acute shortage of nurses calls for immediate hiring, the last hiring of nurses through the State Public Service Commission was done in 2010 .

“We are aware of the problem being faced by the hospital due to the shortage of nurses. For now we can only hire nurses on a contractual basis and we are looking into the matter,” said Dr Geeta Joshi, Additional Director (medical care).