City hospital scales down services

By SHIRLYN BELDEN
PORT Moresby General Hospital will reduce services this festive period because of a shortage of workers.
Most of the workers will go for holidays and annual leave and the hospital is expected to have a shortage of medical workers.
Director medical services Dr David Mokela said: “There will be a shortage of staff during the Christmas and New Year period and people are advised to use other health facilities in the city.”
Mokela said the hospital would only attend to emergency cases and urgent referrals at the Accident and Emergency Department.
The exercise starts today and will end on the January 6.
The wards will remain open as will the admission of patients but surgical services will only be for emergency operations.
Mokela has advised people to avoid unnecessary accidents as much as possible to prevent confusion and complaints about a lack of proper medical attention during the period. 
The medical services office said there would be a recruitment of part-time workers to help out during the festive period but did not give details.
Mokela said this was an exercise at the hospital.