Hospital expects more nurses

 OUTPATIENT waiting times at Kokopo’s St Mary’s Hospital, in East New Britain, are expected to fall because its new and renovated staff dormitories will allow for the recruitment of more nurses.

The two 40-bed dormitories at the hospital were opened last Friday.

The project was delivered through the PNG-Australia Incentive Fund.

AusAID PNG head Stuart Schaefer said the project would result in better health outcomes for pregnant women, babies and children.

“More nurses will be available to attend to preventable causes of maternal and child deaths,” he said.

“The better facilities will attract women to the health workforce and help women nurses to upgrade their clinical skills.”

The dormitories include new kitchens, dining and shower facilities as well as study tables in each room.

Hospital operations officer Phil Dolby said the dormitories would enable the hospital to reinstate clinical rotation of hospital and rural staff.

“The better living conditions and learning environment presents a wonderful opportunity for nurses to upgrade their skills,” Dolby said.

It is understood the Australian Government and St Mary’s Hospital shared the project costs, with Australia providing K2.2 million through the incentive fund and the hospital contributing K510,000.

“The incentive fund is putting K130 million into 20 high-performing education and health projects across PNG, in line with PNG’s priorities,” Schaefer said.