Medical superintendents to form quick response teams to bolster hospital security

NEW DELHI: The Delhi government Health Department has ordered all medical superintendents to direct the constitution of quick response teams, which would be supported by a proper alarm system, so that they can rush to the spot in case of untoward incidents of violence against doctors or any other staff.

The decision comes after the recent strike by resident doctors of LNJP Hospital – also supported by resident doctors of GB Pant Hospital, Guru Nanak Eye Centre, Maulana Azad Medical College and Sushruta Trauma Centre – was called off after discussion with authorities.

"The strike was called off on the evening of March 1, after a meeting with Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash," said an official.

The Department of Health and Family Welfare has instructed all its medical superintendents to draw up a detailed security plan, regulating entry into and exit from hospitals, and asked them to project additional security requirement, if any, to ensure a safe environment to doctors and patients alike.

All efforts are being undertaken to ensure that violence does not occur in any government hospital premises.

The Delhi government assured representatives of doctors that their security needs would be immediately looked into and additional security guards provided within seven working days.

The Chief Secretary also assured that, in the interest of the safety of medical personnel, the number of relatives allowed to accompany patients into the ward would be limited to one, or at the most two, so that there is no overcrowding and the internal security system is able to tackle any threat to safety of doctors.

"Orders to this effect have already been issued by the Department to all its hospitals," said the Delhi government official.

LNJP Hospital has already begun installation of new CCTV cameras, which would facilitate effective monitoring of security in the spacious hospital campus.