During a surprise visit to Vani Vilas Hospital, SA Ramadas, minister for medical education, found that of the 311-strong teaching and non teaching staff, about 132 were absent.
Also, 42 staff members had not signed in the attendance register since March 18. The medical superintendent and the resident medical officer had not taken any action in this regard.
The bio-metric attendance system installed in the hospital a few months ago showed that most staff members were regularly coming to work about an hour late.
Besides this, the Citizen's Helpdesk received several complaints such as the hospital authority refusing to admit patients and later admitting them on the recommendation of influential people.
Many of the patients and their attendants complained that they had to bribe the staff nurses and security to get any service in the hospital.
A visit to the kitchen revealed that substandard 'dal' and 'rice' were being provided to patients. A sample of the same was seized.
However, hospitals doctors defended themselves saying that many patients from KC General Hospital, Corporation Maternity Homes, Ghosh Hospital and those brought in by '108' ambulance have overburdened them with work and the quality of work has, hence, deteriorated.
They suggested that if these patients could be treated in their respective hospitals, the quality of work in Vani Vilas hospital would improve. Also, the number of beds, doctors and nurses needed to be proportionately increased to ensure better service.
They felt obstetrics, gynecology and pediatrics ICUs needed more nurses. Doctors wanted a separate blood bank for Vani Vilas Hospital.
On his visit to Karnataka State Nurses Council, the minister found that of 21 members, eight were on leave. Registrar HL Ramamurthy who came late to work was given a show-cause notice.
Another registrar BN Muninarayanappa, who too was absent, was suspended.
When paramedical board secretary Dr Narayana Reddy expressed his helplessness saying the department was short staffed with just four members, he was relieved from his post.