No quarters for staff of Wenlock hospital

District Wenlock Hospital, which is more than 165 years old, has to its credit the fame of serving the most deprived classes from various parts of coastal districts and nearby places too.

However, when it comes to providing even the most basic facility of housing, which is normally provided to the staff of most of the Government hospitals, this hospital lags behind.

Unfortunately, the staff continue to live either in quarters of other departments, or in rented homes, despite sprawling 2.5 acre land earmarked for the purpose of providing housing facilities to the staff of this hospital, right in the heart of the city, close to the hospital. This land was donated for the purpose by some philanthropist several years ago.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Regional Medical Officer (RMO) and in-charge District Medical Officer Dr P Saroja said that the demand for staff quarters must be as old as the hospital itself because ever since the inception of the hospital there has been no quarter facility for the staff.

“All that we have for a staff quarters are four rooms in the backyard of the hospital where four nurses have been staying. Some are staying in PWD guest house. Rest are living in rented homes in various parts of the city,” said the RMO who herself lives in Lady Goschen quarters.

The hospital has total strength of 686 staff but at present it has working strength of 336.
Despite acute shortage of staff nurses and Group D workers, the hospital has been running the show with the help of private hospital.

The 2.5 acre land donated to the hospital is at Attavar and today the land is covered with lush green vegetation. Encroachment of the land cannot be ruled out because the hospital has not fenced the property or surveyed the land so far. It is said that dearth of funds has prevent the execution and realisation of staff quarters project.

“When a District Surgeon takes place, religiously a proposal is sent to the Government seeking allocation of funds for the project. However, nothing has materialised so far. The area is huge. It would be better if a housing complex is put up rather than going for individual houses,” said a source in the hospital adding that though housing allowance is provided to the staff the staff prefer to have hospital quarters rather than staying at various places.

The Regional Medical Officer said that the staff quarters issue was discussed at the Arogya Raksha Samiti in presence of MLA Yogish Bhat. Then, discussions were held on building the quarters on Private-Public Participation but so far nothing has taken shape.
“Several staff members are living at distant places in the outskirts of the city.

Due to this, attending emergency duties becomes a problem. I am put up in PWD guest house, which is in bad state. It leaks during rainy season. If we had our own quarters then lot of things would fall in place and working would be easier,” says a staff nurse.