HC seeks audit of patient load, hospital staffing in Vidarbha | Nagpur News

Nagpur: Expanding its scrutiny of patient care in govt hospitals, Nagpur bench of Bombay high court directed authorities to furnish detailed data on patient footfall and the availability of attendants, nurses and support staff across 10 districts of Vidarbha.The direction came during the hearing of a suo motu PIL after reports highlighted the shortage of attendants to move stretchers and wheelchairs at Govt Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), in Nagpur, leaving seriously ill, disabled and helpless patients without adequate assistance.A division bench of Justices Anil Kilor and Raj Wakode broadened the scope of the proceedings beyond Nagpur, observing that the issue warranted examination across govt hospitals in the region.The court had earlier taken suo motu cognisance of media reports pointing to deficiencies in patient support services at govt hospitals and appointed Isha Thakre as amicus curiae.During the recent hearing, the bench directed that govt hospitals in all Vidarbha districts, except Wardha, be impleaded as respondents. The hospitals include GMCH and Indira Gandhi Govt Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH), popularly known as Mayo Hospital, in the city, along with govt hospitals in the remaining nine districts of the region.High Court directed the authorities to submit details of each hospital’s average daily footfall of patients, the number of attendants, nurses and other support personnel engaged in patient care.The bench said the information would enable it to assess whether existing manpower was adequate to meet the patient load and evaluate the quality of services being provided in govt hospitals. The matter has been posted for further hearing after three weeks.