Young docs, nurses refuse duty; may pose big challenge

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

28.03.2020

Most private hospitals in the city have cut down on elective surgeries and nearly stopped outpatient services, but hospital managers are worried because young doctors and nurses – who are usually posted on duty in the wards – are now refusing duty.

Doctors say they have reasons. “I stay at a hostel. The hostel is now closed. I returned to my native place because I don’t have a place to stay in Chennai,” said Dr Sathish A, who works for a 650-bed private hospital. Some others like Dr Shanthi S and nurses Ranjita R and Suchi G told the TOI their parents did not want them to report for duty. “Masks and protection gears are given only to staff attending to covid-19 patients. But we don’t know what will happen if a patient with the infection walks into the out-patient unit without knowing about it,” Suchi said.

Sudar Hospital chief Dr TN Ravishankar said that dwindling staff could be one of the biggest challenges for the health care system. “As of now since the flow of patients is reduced, we are not facing a huge problem. But before we see a surge, we need to address this problem,” he said.

Some hospitals like the Rela Institute of Medical Sciences have already started training doctors and paramedics through an online module. “We tell them what to expect, how they should protect themselves, and the things they should remember,” said Dr Ilankumaran Kaliamoorthy, chairman, medical advisory board of the Rela Institute of Medical Sciences.

Others like Vijaya Hospitals and Apollo Hospitals have developed protocols for doctors and health workers. The ambulances have been asked to take suspected patients to earmarked isolated blocks for treatment and management of Covid-19. While the Chennaibased Apollo Hospitals vicechairman Preetha Reddy said the hospital has set aside an entire block for treatment and management of the disease, Vijaya Health Centre has set aside close to 100 beds in an isolated block.

Many smaller hospitals and nursing homes have also allotted some beds to treat patients, who may not require critical care, said health minister C Vijayabaskar. “We are taking to all big and small hospitals. While tertiary care centres will be handling high risk cases, those showing mild symptoms will be isolated in small hospitals. All hospitals will have to follow ICMR isolation protocols,” he said.

STAYING SAFE: Corporation health personnel carries out fumigation at Murugappanagar,Puzhuthivakkam Friday