The nursing staff at the Lok Nayak Jai Parkash Civil Hospital on Monday observed a two-hour pen down strike to mark protest against, Renu Bhatia, Chairperson of the Haryana State Commission for Women, and demanded an apology for her alleged remarks against the nursing staff.
A 15-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by Dr Shailendra Kumar at the hospital last month. He was reengaged as a consultant at the LNJP Civil Hospital after retirement from the Civil Hospital, Kaithal.
Renu Bhatia on Sunday had visited the hospital to inquire about the sexual assault incident at the hospital and reprimanded the officials for the negligence.
The protesting nursing staff members said the Chairperson had made remarks against the nursing officers and levelled baseless allegations, which was not acceptable.
A nursing officer said the nurses were on their respective duties. There are nearly 16 doctors who conduct OPDs and whenever a doctor calls a nurse during the examination of a female patient, the nurses reach their immediately, but during the day of incident, no such call was made by the accused doctor.
Anita, senior nursing officer said the incident happened at the hospital was unfortunate but the way the Chairperson blamed the nursing staff and accused them of having involvement with the doctor is not acceptable. The Chairperson should apologise for her remarks else the nurses will be forced to intensify the protest.
Monika, another nursing officer, said the chairperson should have obtained information about the staff and their duties before levelling allegations against them. The Chairperson should maintain the dignity of her post.
Another staff nurse said that even though her duty was at another OPD, she was blamed for the lapse.
After getting the information, the Chief Medical Officer and Principal Medical Officer held a discussion with the nursing staff.
Kurukshetra Chief Medical Officer Sukhbir Singh said, “The Chairperson for the women commission had visited the hospital and she had expressed unhappiness over certain issues. However, the staff nurses are not happy with some remarks, following which the staff nurses observed a two-hour pen-down strike. I have talked to them and they have resumed their duties. Alternate arrangements were made to ensure that the patients don’t suffer any inconvenience.”
On Sunday, during the visit, Renu Bhatia reprimanded the hospital staff and officials and had said that she would recommend action, including the suspension of the negligent staff members.
As per the information the All-India Government Nurses Federation has extended support to the nurses and has requested the Haryana Chief Minister to remove the Chairperson for her post and take action for the derogatory remarks made against the nursing staff.
