Nagpur: Clinical services and patient management are gradually returning to normalcy at GMCH after 160 probationary nurses reported to work on Wednesday. GMCH, being a tertiary care centre and catering to the highest number of patients, was hit by the nurses’ strike. However, the rest of the nurses continued their strike for the sixth day, awaiting written assurance from the govt. GMCH medical superintendent Dr Avinash Gawande said officials were slowly achieving routine performance in the hospital. “Twenty-six major surgeries, 53 minor surgeries, and 2,402 OPD patients were managed on Wednesday after 160 probationary nurses rejoined. ICU admissions touched 180 by 2 pm. Casualty numbers crossed 142 by the same time. Lab investigations too were increasing,” he said.However, admitted patients faced some problems due to the shortage of nursing staff.“A positive discussion took place at the Mantralaya, Mumbai, under the chairmanship of health minister Hasan Mushrif, with representatives of the Maharashtra State Nurses Association and Maharashtra Nurses Federation. In this meeting, the minister assured that a decision regarding the change in designation will be announced soon. No contractual recruitment will be done for nurse positions. No legal action will be taken against employees during their probationary period,” said a press statement.However, no official or written order was received from the govt by 9 pm. As a result, the Maharashtra State Nurses Association decided to continue the strike until further orders are received. The protest site witnessed sloganeering throughout the day.
