Death of patient on stretcher: Three Ludhiana Civil Hospital doctors get show cause notice
Show Cause Notice
Ludhiana: In the aftermath of a patient's tragic demise following a fall from a stretcher at the Ludhiana Civil Hospital, decisive steps have been taken, with one Emergency Medical Officer (EMO) facing charge sheeting, and show-cause notices issued to three other doctors.
However, the incident has brought to light broader concerns regarding the civil hospital's operational challenges. Doctors and other officials have raised issues pertaining to the inadequacy of facilities and manpower. Notably, the hospital is grappling with a severe shortage of personnel, with only 13 regular Class Four employees against a sanctioned post of 51. Additionally, the hospital has a meager two safai sewaks in contrast to the sanctioned posts of 52, reports the Daily.
According to the Indian Public Health Standards guidelines applicable to 300-bedded hospitals,135 staff nurses should be posted against 51 sanctioned posts. In adherence to National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) guidelines, a patient-staff-nurse ratio of 1:6 is prescribed for general wards per shift. However, the male ward, accommodating 46 beds, is grappling with a critical staff shortage, with only one staff nurse assigned per shift instead of the recommended eight.
