Hyderabad: Three people, including a prisoner at a city jail, succumbed to H1N1 on Sunday, taking the toll to 43 this year.

A 30-year-old prisoner from Cherapally jail and a 34-year-old patient who was undergoing treatment at Gandhi Hospital died on Sunday. The third victim was a 60-year-old patient from Keesara.

The total number of positive cases reported on Sunday was 40 taking the number to 645. At the Osmania General Hospital on Sunday, there was no staff available to take blood samples from patients for the H1N1 test. Angry patients complained to senior doctors but there was no response.

A senior doctor who made a surprise visit to the hospital said, “I was shocked. When the resident medical officer was questioned, he complained that nurses were not ready to go close to the patients. This is wrong, they need to be guided so that their fears will be addressed and they can work freely.”

Director of medical education Dr P. Srinivas paid a surprise visit to Gandhi Hospital on Sunday and inspected the arrangements for H1N1 patients and facilities in the ward. He also told the hospital staff to improve sanitation and ensure that there is proper lighting in the wards.

According to sources, doctors and nurses were asked to ensure that proper hygiene and cleanliness is maintained in the hospital. Also the nurses must be told repeatedly about the importance of hand-washing and wearing masks properly.