SCB Medical College ICU in Cuttack Faces Severe Staffing Shortage: Only 3 Nurses for 40 Patients
The medicine Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack is currently functioning with a critically low staffing level of just three nurses for 40 patients, according to official sources. This alarming situation came to light after an unattended patient allegedly fell from a bed on Sunday, an incident that has raised serious concerns about patient safety and monitoring protocols within the facility.
Violation of Health Standards and Public Outcry
The staffing ratio at the ICU represents a stark deviation from the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS), which mandate one dedicated nurse per patient on ventilator support and one nurse for every two patients not on ventilators per shift. In response to the incident, health authorities ordered a probe on Tuesday after a video of the Sunday fall went viral, triggering widespread concern among attendants and the public over the lack of adequate supervision in the 40-bed ICU.
Sources revealed that managing 40 ICU patients with only three nursing staff has been a regular practice at SCB for years, highlighting a systemic issue. Attendants expressed their frustration and fear over the situation. Sudhansu Jena, an attendant, questioned, "How can an ICU run with three nurses? It is not possible for just three nurses to monitor so many critical patients at a time." Another attendant, Manmaya Das, emphasized, "These are critical patients who need constant observation. If staffing had been adequate, such an incident might have been avoided. The government should ensure recruitment of an adequate number of nursing officers for the safety of critical patients."
Administrative Actions and Official Responses
Following the incident, SCB authorities took immediate action by withdrawing the in-charge professor of the medicine ICU and transferring three nursing officers. Dr. Gautam Satpathy, the superintendent of SCB, admitted to the severe staff crunch, stating, "We have informed the higher authorities. We will accommodate more staff in the 40-bed ICU once the posts are sanctioned." He further announced the formation of a six-member committee, headed by Prof. Saroj Tripathy, head of the department of medicine, to investigate the exact sequence of events and assign responsibility.
SCB Medical College, one of Odisha's largest tertiary care hospitals, serves patients from across the state and beyond, leading to a consistently high patient load. Dr. Satpathy added, "Being a major referral hospital, the patient load at SCB remains very high. We are reviewing manpower deployment and will take appropriate steps to ensure such incidents do not recur." In a positive development, Health Secretary S. Aswathy confirmed that the government has initiated the process to fill key posts, aiming to address the staffing shortages.
Broader Implications for Healthcare in Odisha
This incident underscores a broader crisis in healthcare staffing at public hospitals in Odisha, where inadequate resources often compromise patient care. The probe and subsequent actions highlight the urgent need for systemic reforms to align with national health standards and ensure the safety of critically ill patients. As the investigation progresses, stakeholders are calling for transparent reporting and swift implementation of corrective measures to prevent future lapses in ICU management and supervision.
