Hanamkonda: In a shocking incident, a video showing female employees allegedly drinking alcohol on duty in their staff room at the Government Maternity Hospital in Hanamkonda has gone viral. The incident was captured by one of the patient's attendants.
In the video, one of the women was seen having a beer bottle in her lap, gossiping with others, and neglecting their duties.
While they were busy celebrating the birthday party, a relative of a pregnant woman who was admitted to the hospital a week ago secretly captured the incident in a video that went viral on Thursday.
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According to reports, the hospital administration had previously discovered similar acts taking place there and had issued warnings to those responsible, threatening suspension in the event of such behaviour recurred. However, despite their warnings, the staff members violated the hospital's rules.
Demanding strict action against those staff members, the patients and their relatives alleged that they have seen the staff drinking alcohol and celebrating birthdays instead of being round-the-clock.
Similarly, the staff has been accused of laxity in duty, and the hospital has failed to address the situation on the spot due to a lack of supervision from the higher government officials. The women staff members in the video include a GNM, an Aarogyasri worker, a staff nurse, and two outsiders.
In the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act,1946 model standing orders, consumption of liquor in the workplace is mentioned as misconduct that would invite disciplinary action. Thus, consuming alcohol during duty hours and not being able to provide services to the patients calls for strict action by the hospital authorities.
The alleged action has raised questions about the quality of services that the staff would provide being intoxicated. The relatives of the patients demanded immediate action from the hospital authorities against the concerned staff for neglecting their duty and consuming alcohol on the hospital premises.
When contacted, hospital in-charge superintendent Dr Vijayalaxmi told The Hindu that an inquiry committee has been constituted to probe the matter and ascertain the facts.
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