Tribune News Service
Patiala, July 17
Patients at Government Rajindra Hospital were at the receiving end on Tuesday as Class IV employees locked one of the operation theatre complexes in a protest at the hospital late on Monday evening.
The protesters locked both entrance gates leading to the main OT complex by fixing a wooden sheet with iron nails. Reportedly, around 20 operations of the orthopaedics and surgery departments were postponed in the past 24 hours due to the protest.
As per sources, the Medical Superintendent and the Principal were informed about the closure of the OT, but both of them were unable to restore the services.
Patients were seen waiting outside the OT. Vijay Kumar, who came to the hospital along with his mother Shanti Devi, said: “I was told that my mother would be operated upon for elbow fracture at 8 am. But we have been waiting for the protest to end. The authorities should find a solution as soon as possible.”
Another patient Harvinder Singh, 63, a resident of Mathura, said: “I was given an appointment for an operation of my thigh. But I have been waiting for hours for my operation.”
Dr Manjit, Head of the Department of Orthopaedics, said: “Around 10 patients of the orthopaedics department are operated upon in a day, but due to the protest none was operated upon on Tuesday. Due to the ongoing protest, we have postponed the operations.”
Ram Krishan, president, Class 4 Employee Association, said: “We are demanding that vacant posts of Class IV employees should be filled at the hospital. There are only 300 Class IV employees to take care of cleanliness of around 1,300 beds at the hospital. We will lock other OTs in the hospital if our demands are not met.”
Medical Superintendent BS Brar said: “I had a talk with the Class IV employees on Tuesday. I have requested them to open the OT gates as soon as possible. I have informed the higher authorities as well, including the Director Health and Health Secretary, Punjab. I hope that the situation will improve on Wednesday.”