The decision to implement a three-tier shift system for the nursing staff by Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) has raised safety concerns among the female nursing staff owing to the lack of proper official transport to reach home, reported a local news agency, Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
Nurses accused the administration that the decision has been taken to correct some financial irregularities in the institute and authorities are now using them as scapegoats.
The nurses told the agency that under the new shift system, one has to reach on duty in the wee hours at 8 am and leave at 8 pm in the second shift, and at that time night shift begins.
Under prevailing circumstances, this system makes the female nurses prone to any mishap but concerned authorities are hell-bent to recognize it, said a nurse, adding that this three-tier shift system is putting the chastity and life of females at risk.
“If authorities are claiming that they have done this to improve patient care, then why other employees have been excluded,” she said, adding that “everyone has to play a role and if authorities are sincere towards it, all employees should be included in the three-tier system.”
Prior to the 3-tier system, nurses were working in two shifts from 10 am to 4 pm and vice-versa and were taking two days off in a week. However, the 3-tier system increased their working hours from 30 hours to 46 hours per week and off time just one day in a week.
“If our shifts end now at odd times, it is the duty of hospital administration to provide us transport facilities from residence to hospital and back but they are leaving us kilometers away from residence due to which we are facing a lot of problems,” they said.
Through numerous representations, they have informed the Director and Medical Superintendent of SKIMS Soura but they are giving a deaf ear to this grave issue, they added.
They urged Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha to look into the matter and direct the authorities to have passionate and sympathetic approach in this regard and re-start the previous duty schedule so that nursing staff won’t face any problems—(KNO)
