Doctors, pharmacists, technicians, and nurses apart, the VSS Medical College Hospital, Burla, faces shortage of attendants, seriously crippling its service.
Mostly, acute shortage in attendants has led to dissatisfaction among patients coming for treatment. In absence of attendants, the relations of the patients are doing the works performed by the attendants even if they are not acquainted with the work. As per the norms, two attendants and two sweepers are required for every 40 beds in the hospital during the day time, while it is one attendant and one sweeper for every 40 beds at night. As such, 450 employees in grade four posts are required for the entire hospital, but only 200 are there in the hospital now. “The shortage in these posts in lower level is affecting the normal activities of the hospital,” the authorities admitted.
Attendants have also important roles during treatment of the patients. They transport oxygen cylinders, saline bottles, medicines from the stores and meet all other emergency needs. They also carry the stretchers for serious patients. Further, they are the links among different departments. But shortage in these posts has affected the service to a great extent.
When contacted, the superintendent of VSS medical college and hospital Dr lK Dash said: “We are making efforts to fill up the vacancies.”