Staff shortage ails gynaecology unit

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, July 9

The quality of medical care at the gynaecology unit in Mother and Child Hospital has been affected as the inflow of patients has doubled but the number of doctors has remained unchanged in the past five years.

The increased inflow of patients is not only affecting quality medical care with which pregnant women are supposed to be taken care of, but is also putting pressure on the existing strength of gynaecologists and assisting staff at the hospital. With the increase in the number of patients at the OPD, the rate of deliveries being conducted at the unit has also increased by 50 per cent.

The Mother and Child Hospital that was witnessing around 100 to 120 patients at the gynaecology OPD five years ago is now visited by around 200 to 220 patients. Moreover, the number of deliveries has increased from 300-350 to 450 to 500 around the same time.

At one of the busiest labour units that witnesses around 12 to 17 child births on a daily basis, three gynaecologists, owing to shortage of staff, are made to work either beyond their shift timings or be available for on call duty 24 hours a day. Making the matters worse, single gynaecologist remains available at the labour unit for a shift and apart from ensuring deliveries of over 12 pregnant women, she also has the additional burden of emergency cases, medico-legal cases and caesarean (C-section) deliveries. There is only one gynaecologist available at one time, managing all affairs inside the unit while another remains engaged in the outdoor patient department.

The labour unit sees around four-seven caesarean deliveries during late evening hours every day and on every alternate day, the gynaecologist who completes the shift in the morning has to visit hospital for on call duty even at night. Managing affairs becomes difficult when a doctor has to go on a leave to attend training sessions outside the city.

Sources at the MCH said that apart from examining pregnant women at the OPD section, the gynaecologist on duty has to conduct emergency delivery cases from public health centres (referred to the Civil Hospital) on the outskirts of the city.

Sources said there were three gynaecologists and considering inflow of patients and deliveries conducted at the labour unit, the strength of three gynaecologists needs to be increased to five. With the existing strength, it is not possible for the gynaecologists to stretch beyond their working hours and be available for on call emergency cases on every alternate day.

Sukhjinder Singh Gill, Senior Medical Officer, MCH, said, “The decision regarding the new appointments or transfers lies with higher authorities and we have always stated our requirement of staff members with them. No doubt, we are grappling with staff shortage and managing affairs become difficult when doctors have to go on leave or training. The workload on the existing staff increases.”