They are the first line of defence and the first responders. Sadly, the health authorities do not seem to acknowledge the fact. Not a single government tertiary hospital in the twin cities has basic facilities like sick rooms, changing rooms, hostel rooms or a nursing college on teaching hospital campuses.
The newly constructed buildings for Gandhi Hospital, Musheerabad, and Government Maternity Hospital, Petlaburj (formerly Nayapul Maternity Hospital), too, do not have facilities for nurses. Ironically, the old Gandhi Hospital near the Secunderabad Railway Station as well as the old maternity hospital used to have proper facilities for nurses.
The hapless nurses, who are practically left with no option, are pooling their resources to share rooms on rent in private hostels to stay close to hospitals.
“We have to work all through the night, so we need to stay near the hospital to attend to emergencies. We need security, too. Yet, the government does not recognise the need to provide even minimum facilities to us,” laments former AP Government Nurses’ Association (APGNA) general secretary K. Sujavathi. Senior nurses point out that nurses need changing rooms. They need rest and sick rooms in the course of regular duty. Many are of the view that hostels for those pursuing nursing at teaching hospitals should be provided on the hospital campus.
Without exception, none of the government teaching hospitals in Hyderabad has the requisite facilities for nurses. At Niloufer Hospital, the quarters meant for nurses, changing rooms and classrooms were demolished for a new outpatient block.
Similar is the case at Sultan Bazar Maternity Hospital, Koti. The old hospital had sick rooms and changing rooms for nurses, whereas the new building lacks them. At Chest Hospital, Erragadda, the nursing hostel and nurses’ rooms have been modified into outpatient facilities.
“Hospital buildings designed by the British rulers had basic facilities for nurses. However, modern buildings lack them. While everyone demands good service, no one seems to care for us,” says APGNA president M. Annamma.
