MiD DAY reporter bluffs her way into the maternity ward of the Sion Hospital, from where a newborn was stolen on Thursday
MiD DAY reporter bluffs her way into the maternity ward of the Sion Hospital, from where a newborn was stolen on Thursday
Yesterday, this reporter and a photographer successfully entered the maternity ward of the Sion Hospital without revealing her identity to security personnel and hospital staff. A day earlier, 33-year-old Chembur-resident Mohini Nerukar's four-day-old baby was stolen from the very ward ('More security at Sion Hospital after newborn is kidnapped' MiD DAY January 2).
This reporter's subsequent experiences revealed that the hospital has clearly not learnt its lesson.
First breach
Urvashi Seth: Maternity ward mein jana hai. Mujhe paise pahuchane hai. Patient ko paise pahuchane hain
Security Guard: Madam pass nahi toh kaise entry denge aapko.
(After a brief pauseu00e2u0080u00a6) jao madam de do paise.
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The reporter reached paediatric ward number 21 and 22, where there were no security guards but many doctors and nurses. To those who asked, the reporter said she was here to hand over some money to a Surekha Patil. There was, of course, no Surekha.
Sheer carelessness
A doctor asked us to try looking for Surekha in maternity ward number 10 and 11. Incidentally, this was where Nerukar's baby was stolen from, a day earlier. Outside the ward, a woman security guard personnel was ensuring that only one relative was allowed per patient.
The reporter's entry was barred by the guard. "What did you say the name was? Did she have a caesarean," the woman asked.
The guard refused to give the reporter entry and directed her to a nurse, who promised to look up Surekha's name in the log book. "Women often used their maiden names," the nurse said, and offered the reporter a glass of water, and asked if she would like a cup of tea.
Criminal neglect
When the reporter said she would rather leave, the nurse took her in the ward and went to other rooms, enquiring about Surekha.
Meanwhile, the reporter was left free to chat up the young mothers, and look at the babies to her heart's
content.
Meanwhile, DCP Zone II, S B Baviskar said the woman suspected of kidnapping Nerukar's child has not been traced. "We have asked all chemists and druggists in the area to be alert, as the woman may return to shop for medicines."