4-Mar-2013
Umesh Isalkar
PUNE: Several posts of mental health professionals are vacant at the four
regional mental hospitals in the state, says the latest report of the state
health department.
The shortage of psychiatric nurses, clinical psychologists and other skilled
staff is hampering patient care. This at a time when a significant proportion
of state's population has recognisable mental disorders in the form of
depression, anxiety, somatoform disorders, adjustment disorders, personality
disorders, alcohol and drug abuse.
"Total 311 posts, including key positions of psychiatrist, psychiatric nurses,
clinical psychologists, medical officers, attendants etc have been vacant for
over a year now," said a state health official. A recent report of the state
health department says there are total 2,195 sanctioned posts for all the four
state-run regional hospitals. Of them, only 1,884 posts are occupied.
"It's not just the skilled manpower that is in demand. Even the key post of a
superintendent has been vacant at the regional mental hospitals at Pune and
Ratnagiri," said a state official.
Vilas Bhailume, acting superintendent at regional mental hospital, Pune, also
known as Yerawada mental hospital, confirmed the finding. "The post of the
superintendent here has been lying vacant since April last year. Recently, the
deputy superintendent's post also fell vacant. Now, I hold the additional
charge of both these posts." Besides, posts of clinical psychologists,
positions of class I psychiatrist, administrative officer, medical record
officer, matron, assistant matron are also vacant at the regional mental
hospital in Pune.
"Total 12 out of the 32 posts of psychiatric nurses, two of occupational
therapists and six of the 120 posts of staff nurses and the two posts of
supervisors are vacant," Bhailume said. Besides, positions of senior and junior
clerks, four posts of incharge attendants, cooks, barbers and drivers are also
unoccupied.
With so many positions unoccupied, the management at the hospital in Pune has
turned out to be quite a task. An official said, "We have to manage. What else
one can do? Since our staff nurses have been treating patients with all sorts
of mental illness for years, they double up as psychiatric nurses. Similarly,
other jobs are taken care of with whatever resources we have. This has burdened
the existing staff and hampered their performance in their areas of expertise."
Rajendra Shirsath, deputy superintendent at regional mental hospital in
Ratnagiri, said, "The post of superintendent here has been unoccupied since
2005-06. Currently, I have been given the additional charge. Besides, posts of
clinical psychologist and matron have not been filled. We also need a
dietician. A nurse is assigned the work of taking care of patients' diet. We
have to manage things and see that overall quality of work is satisfactory, to
say the least. But since everyone has two or three additional charges, an
individual's area of expertise definitely suffers."
The regional mental hospital in Nagpur, which has a bed strength of 940, has 71
posts vacant. "Most of the posts that are not filled pertains to staff nurses
and class IV employees," said Abhay Gajbhiye, superintendent of regional mental
hospital, Nagpur.
A state health official said, "Earlier, the director of state public health
department had the powers to recruit all the staff needed at regional mental
health hospital. Recently, certain powers have been delegated to deputy
director. As officials are overburdened even at directorate level, certain
issues like recruitment that requires a few permissions from higher level get
sidelined."
State health minister Suresh Shetty said, "We have initiated the process to
recruit people. All posts will soon be filled. Besides, the state government
has decided to strengthen mental health services across the state. We have
already shortlised areas that need more attention."
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/311-key-posts-in-mental-hospitals-not-filled/articleshow/18785241.cms?
--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
Groups "Mental Health Advocacy (News 'N Views) India" group.
To post to this group, send email to [email protected]
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
[email protected]
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/MhaNewsViewsIndia?hl=en
-------------
Affiliated Groups : MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY INDIA
[email protected]
Discussions on mental health law / policy / plan monitoring / human rights etc
[email protected]
India-specific news and views related to mental health
[email protected]
Information and support to carers of people with mental health issues
[email protected]
Mutual support and sharing of experiential knowledge, skills and social
learning amongst peers
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
"Mental Health Advocacy (News 'N Views) India" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email
to [email protected].
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
