Three days after allegations of forcing destitute patients in the ninth ward of the General Hospital to lie along with dead bodies led to a major controversy, the state government deployed 15 grade-II attenders at the hospital.
Health Minister V S Sivakumar said that five more grade-II employees will be posted at the hospital, from where there were complaints about scarcity of staff and overcrowding. He also said that three male home nurses will be provided by the Kerala Social Security Mission by November 15. Six more home nurses will be posted by the Hospital Development Society, he added.
The General Hospital was in the news over allegations of disrespect to the dead bodies and carelessness in attending to the destitute patients of the ninth ward. It was alleged that the bodies were placed on the verandah of the ward among the patients. The dead bodies were not shifted as the doctor who was supposed to examine them and issue the death certificates had reached the spot late.
After the alleged incident came to light, the Director of Health Services was asked to probe into the episode. It is learned that the probe has already started.
After visiting the hospital on Sunday, Sivakumar had said that action will be taken against those responsible for the act after the report was received. The Minister had also said that a monitoring committee would be set up to study the issues at the General Hospital.
There is also a proposal for setting up a closed-circuit camera in the ninth ward and the District Medical Officer has been instructed to visit the hospital once a week.
The ninth ward that houses destitute patients is crowded with new admissions every other day. It was reported that 80 patients are crowded in the ward when the actual bed space is for only 40 patients.