Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, staff back on duty

Tribune News Service

Patiala, December 27

After shutting down for two weeks, Government Rajindra Hospital today reopened the gynaecology emergency. The decision is said to have been taken after regular nursing staff, who were on probation, had joined back their duties. Junior residents (JRs) have also joined their duties. This comes days after hospital authorities warned of strict action against these nurses. However, some regular nurses, who were not on probation, continue to skip their duties.

Junior resident doctors for many days have been protesting over the delay in the counselling of NEET PG, while staff nurses are demanding pay parity.

Dr Parneet, head of the gynaecology department, said, “We have started admitting the emergency patients. All the three shifts, throughout the day, have been working to handle any kind of emergency.”

Dr Hajinder Singh, Director Principal, Government Medical College, said that Rajindra Hospital had resumed back to normalcy. Singh said, “Majority of the nurses have joined their duties. We have relocated nurses depending on the requirements of various departments. Besides, all junior residents have started performing OPDs and emergency duties.” Singh said that nurses, who continue to protest, won’t be paid. “We will deduct their salaries for the days they have remained absent from their duties,” said Director Principal.

Dr Prabhsimran Singh, general secretary, Resident Doctors Union, Punjab, said that they had joined back as patients were suffering due to their strike. Singh, however, said they would continue to hold symbolic protests over the delay in NEET PG counselling.