Srinagar, Aug 26: Despite facing severe criticism over the staff shortage in Kashmir hospitals, the Health and Medical Education Department is unmoved over the “unusual duty pattern” followed by nurses and paramedics wherein they take three days off before and after their night duties.
 According to official documents, the nursing and paramedical staff follows two duty patterns, attending just 24 hours duty in 96 hours.
 It is not only critical areas which face shortage of manpower in Valley hospitals, but even the routine patient-care is suffering in absence of paramedical staff. “Even as the rush of patients has increased manifold in the hospitals, the norms in vogue since turbulent times are still popular among the staff. But now it is difficult to cope up in view of 20 times more patient rush in the hospitals,” sources said.
 A GMC official, wishing anonymity, said the result is a “stark discrepancy in quality as it not only affect day-time services but makes the night-time in-patient services worst hit.”
 The observers seek change in the duty roaster in view of increased rush of patients in hospitals.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 26 Aug 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 26 Aug 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 27 Aug 2012 00:00:00 IST