Nurse played game while caring for patient on respirator

An assistant nurse is seen playing a game on her mobile phone while treating a patient at a district hospital in Buri Ram. (Photos taken from a Facebook user's page by Surachai Piragsa)

BURI RAM: Relatives vented their frustration on seeing an on-duty assistant nurse playing a game on a mobile phone when she was supposed to be taking care of a patient on a respirator at a district hospital.

The assistant nurse (who was not identified) came under fire after images of her playing a game on her phone beside the patient’s bed went viral online.

The Facebook user who posted them on Monday also commented, “Excuse me, the hospital…treating patients like relatives? My uncle is on the verge of exhaustion. How come you are playing a game? Are you free now? Have sympathy for his relatives, please. They are looking at you playing games while treating the patient. How would you feel if you were in their shoes? I don’t want to denounce you, but I have watched you doing this for over an hour.’’

The post drew heavy criticism of the assistant nurse.

A Facebook user posted these photos of the assistant nurse and a message criticising her for playing a game on a mobile phone while taking care of a patient. (Photo taken from a Facebook user's page by Surachai Piragsa)

The account holder, Ms Ann (surname withheld), said she had no intention of finding fault with the assistant nurse, but she was worried about the condition of her uncle, who was relying heavily on a respirator to breathe at the time. When she saw the assistant nurse playing a game while on duty she became upset and posted the images on her Facebook page.

She later deleted the post after the hospital apologised for the incident. She had also apologised to the hospital in turn. She had no intention of causing damage to the hospital, she said. However, she wanted the hospital staffer to do her job better. She and her relatives had no grudge against the woman, and wanted to the matter to end there.

Ms Thom, the patient's wife, said her husband was admitted to the district hospital suffering acute stomach pain, and was awaiting transfer to the public hospital in downtown Muang district of Buri Ram, about 50 kilometres away.

She thought it improper for the assistant nurse to play a game on her mobile phone when she was supposed to be taking care of her husband.

She did not want any action taken against the woman, only that she do her job better and pay more attention to the patients. Many hospital staff took the very best care of patients, she said.

Dr Noppadol Pitsanuwong, deputy director of the hospital, said management did not sit still over the incident. Representatives went to visit the patient, who was later transferred to Buri Ram Hospital, and apologised to the relatives. The matter had ended amicably.

The assistant nurse had since been warned about her conduct and her work performance was being assessed, he said.