Lack of manpower hits Psychiatric Hospital Srinagar

Srinagar, Aug 26: Due to a shortage of manpower and lack of response from higher authorities Government Psychiatric Diseases Hospital Srinagar has decided to stop the de-addiction IPD services at Community General Hospital Unit, SMHS Complex (DDC).
Government Psychiatric Diseases Hospital Srinagar has said that services will remain stopped till the manpower crisis is resolved. Only severe cases requiring admission will be entertained at Government Psychiatric Disease Hospital Srinagar at Rainawari.
Government Psychiatric Diseases Hospital Srinagar has called a meeting to take some measures in the interest of patient care as the hospital is lacking manpower and there is no response from the higher authorities to address the issue.
Various decisions were taken at the meeting that was presided by Head of Department Psychiatry Prof. Dr Mohammad Maqbool Dar. The meeting was called to discuss the fall out of cessation of services of 28 personnel engaged under National Mental Health Program from 1st September next month and contingency measures to be taken thereof.
The meeting was attended by Prof. Dr Arshid Hussain, Prof. Dr Zaid Ahmad Wani, Prof. Dr. Yasir Hassan Rather, Dr. Ajaz Ahmad Baba and Dr. Syed Abinah Nawaz.
The Medical Superintendent detailed the deficiency of the staff due to unfilled, vacant positions especially that of the multi-tasking staff whose sanctioned strength is 69, out of which only 31 posts are filled and 38 posts are vacant. The impact of the cessation of services of 28 personnel engaged under National Mental Health Programme in the backdrop of the already existing deficiency of staff was discussed threadbare.
It was discussed that the issue of a severe shortage of staff and the impending crises due to the cessation of these personnel have already been flagged and the Principal, Dean, Govt. Medical College, Srinagar as well as the higher authorities have been apprised of the same; while waiting for positive response regarding mitigation of the crises. It was decided in the meeting that certain contingency measures have become unavoidable and need to be instituted to tailor the services provided to the available manpower so that patient care in essential areas will be least affected.
After discussing the issue of acute manpower, it was decided to stop de-addiction IPD services at Community General Hospital Unit, SMHS Complex from 1st September, besides OPD services including de-addiction and General Psychiatry etc will be stopped at CGHU and in order to optimise the patient care services, the IPD services at Govt. Psychiatric Diseases will be catered to at Govt. Psychiatric Disease Hospital Srinagar (Main Hospital) at Rainawari. Hospital Srinagar will be scaled down to a bare minimum and only severely sick patients will be admitted. The Electro Convulsive Therapy services at Govt. Psychiatric Diseases Hospital Srinagar will be restricted to only 03 days per week. Besides, the MRD section at the Hospital will remain functional till 5 pm only as used to be the practice before the hiring of personnel under National Mental Health Programme. Manual OPD tickets will be kept available with the emergency staff for emergency patients.
These measures as per the hospital are deemed necessary so that the services are optimized and there is no dilution of patient care in case of severely sick patients. The meeting concluded with the resolve that the issue of shortage of manpower will again be raised with the concerned authorities and pursued with vigor. [KNT]