Stanley hospital stocks up on syringes and needles

The Hindu had reported that a number of city government hospitals were reusing syringes due to poor stock maintenance

Officials of Government Stanley Medical College Hospital inspected the wards of the hospital and instructed the staff to ensure adequate stock of syringes and needles.

The inspection was conducted a day after The Hindu reported that a number of government hospitals in the city were reusing syringes due to poor stock maintenance. Senior doctors visited all the wards of the hospital and checked the stock of syringes and needles.

“We have replenished the stock wherever it was in short supply. We have also provided needle destroyers. There was a requirement of 10-ml syringes and it was met. The hospital authorities have given clear instructions to the staff on maintaining and procuring required stock. The hospital store has also been told to supply whatever is required,” a senior doctor said.

The stock registers in every ward were also checked. The doctor said there was no dearth of funds especially with the money available under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme. Heads of departments could utilise the funds to meet the requirements of their wards, he said.

Meanwhile, members of the Tamil Nadu Government Nurses Association met health secretary J. Radhakrishnan on Thursday. They have sought more manpower for government hospitals, said association president T. Leelavathi.

She said there was a shortage of nurses, right from primary health centres to tertiary-care hospitals, as more centres had been opened and hospitals had expanded their services.

The Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital on Thursday recruited 62 nurses on contract. They are on a consolidated pay of Rs. 8,805 a month and have been accommodated in the nursing students’ hostel.