Kottayam: Functioning of private hospitals in the State was badly affected as the nurses went on a mass leave on Thursday demanding better wages.

However, nurses were providing support to run the casualty and emergency services.

Members of the United Nurses Association and the Indian Nurses Association are demanding a basic salary of Rs 20,000 when most of them get wages in the Rs 8,000-9,000 range.

Talks between nurses, hospital managements and the government failed to make any headway in the matter.

The Government had persuaded the managements to give Rs 17,200 which the nurses have opposed.

Kerala High Court held a mediation talk on Wednesday which failed to break the deadlock. A meeting of the striking nurses and hospital managements has been called by the Chief Minister on Thursday evening.

There are at least 1,282 private hospitals of which 33 have more than 250 beds.