Thiruvananthapuram: Health minister K.K. Shylaja on Saturday warned staff of government hospitals and medical colleges against behaving rudely with the patients. In a direct talk with nursing staff, nursing assistants and attendants, Ms Shylaja said strict action would be taken against hospital staff who indulge in rude behaviour with patients or harm them physically. The minister’s direct interaction with hospital staff came in the wake of the incident in which a nursing staff had twisted finger of elderly patient at the MCH Thiruvananthpuram.
She said it was the duty of doctors, nursing staff and other employees to provide relief to the patients who come to hospitals with various health issues. While patients might express discomfort and behave differently because of health related problems, the employees should maintain restrain and should not lose cool. The minister said the staff should listen to the patients with patience.
“There is no need for a special code of conduct for employees. Efforts should be made to understand patients without getting provoked or irritated,” she said. Ms Shylaja said staff organisations working in health sector particularly hospitals should ensure presence of their members during duty hours. She directed higher officials to take disciplinary action against those shirking official responsibilities.
The minister said there may be occasions when patients would be made to lie on the floor following non availability of beds. In such circumstances, the staff should take extra care to such patients and ensure they get proper treatment.
“The government recognises the valuable services being rendered by a majority of staff in medical colleges and government hospitals. But incidents like the one that happened in Trivandrum medical college bring disrepute to the entire fraternity. She said the government was taking measures to develop infrastructure facilities and increase staff strength in hospitals. More than 4,700 employees have been posted in medical education department since the LDF government came to power. As many as 1,000 posts of nurses have been created in the medical education department.
