With an aim to check the growing clashes between attendants of patients and doctors working at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Odisha, the commissionerate police recently conducted training sessions with private security guards deployed on the hospital campus. The sessions focused on how security guards can best deal with such situations and diffuse them effectively.
This year, junior doctors of SCB have gone on cease work twice, demanding strengthened security system on the hospital premises after doctors were attacked by attendants. In the past, incidents like the theft of newborns and touts diverting patients to private hospitals have also been reported on SCB campus. “We conducted training sessions with an aim to ensure proper security at SCB. The personnel will be trained in three phases,” said District Commissioner of Police, Akhileswar Singh.
A team of senior police officials sensitized the 340 odd security personnel working at SCB on the need to behave sensitively with patients’ attendants. The police officers advised security men to speak politely but intervene immediately when a tussle or a heated exchange of words takes place between doctors and attendants.
It has been noticed that whenever any tension sparks between attendants and doctors over any patient’s death or declining health, the security guards stand as mute spectators to the entire event or are unable to figure out what to do. The security person can play a major role in avoiding untoward incidents by pacifying the attendants. Besides, they should immediately inform senior doctors, hospital administration and police about the incident so that things can be controlled within time,” said a police officer . Along with handling of law and order, the security guards were trained to keep vigil on mischief mongers and any suspicious persons moving in the hospital. SCB superintendent Shyama Kanungo had also organized a special session to train medical students on proper behavior with patients two months ago.
The SCB authorities have also installed over 140 CCTV cameras on the campus and deployed 40 more security personnel in sensitive wards like gynecology and medicine. A central monitoring room has been set up for proper surveillance. A pass system has also been introduced for patients’ attendants. “Security in the hospital has been beefed up. Along with private personnel, two platoons of police personnel have also been deployed” said SCB administrative officer, Pratap Mishra.
