New Delhi: Hue and cry have been created after around 95 nurses, who were recruited eleven months ago during the COVID-19 pandemic at the Lok Nayak Hospital to increase the medical staff in order to manage the growing cases are reported to have been arbitrarily terminated through a Whatsapp message.
The nurses received their termination letter through Whatsapp, reports the Times of India. The message read, "On May 14, 2021, a Covid facility was started at Ramlila Maidan. All the staff posted worked for hand in hand to run this facility smoothly. Now as Covid has come to an end and this facility is being shut down, it's time to say goodbye. All the nurses posted at the Ramlila ground or in vaccination (section) or in Lok Nayak Hospital... are directed not to continue with their duties."
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A medical staff, whose service was terminated earlier this month said that they were not informed beforehand through any notice, but only through a whatsapp message. The staff said that 300 nurses were recruited for serving the Covid wards last year, while some were deputed in the main hospital, a few for vaccination, and 95 at the Ramlila Maidan Covid center."
He added, "On March 3, we were sent a WhatsApp message. There was no other official communication. When we spoke to the authorities, we were told that if there is a requirement, we will be called back. But there's no guarantee. We worked for long hours risking lives during the Delta wave, we didn't expect this kind of treatment."
Meanwhile, an official of the Lok Nayak hospital said, "The nurses were hired for 45 days last year for Covid management. Once cases came down, their services were extended by three-four months. Many have been absorbed as well. Only those whose performance was not up to the mark have been asked not to continue."
The nurses associated with Lady Hardinge Medical College are also in protest over their termination of services on March 22. A nurse whose service was terminated spoke to the TOI. "We were hired on a contractual basis for three months when the second wave began last year. But they continued with our service and deployed us in different departments for non-Covid work as well. Now the administration says they don't have funds. We have no other choice but to protest."
The hospital officials did not respond to any queries.
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