Lack of staff affecting hospital’s performance

A long-serving community health worker (CHW) working in the Manus General Hospital’s out-patient, accident and emergency unit and eye clinic said a shortage of manpower was affecting their service.
Eye clinic officer in charge Lina Loras said lack of medical professionals was affecting the hospital’s effectiveness and the problem had been ongoing for the last five years.
Loras said general nursing services were available from Monday to Wednesday at the out-patient and accident and emergency while eye clinic services were available on Thursdays and Fridays.
“There is no health awareness throughout the province because I am the only one working in the eye clinic and if I had to go out, there won’t be anyone to treat patients here,” she said.
Loras said she started serving three units in the hospital five years ago and that arrangement had not changed and it was too much work for the number of staff.
“Even though I am an eyecare nurse I cannot run my clinic for five days because the same clinic space is also used by the psychiatric nurse and other units,” she said.
Manus General Hospital had acquired new staff but none in the eye care unit.
Loras said she was hopeful the situation would improve.
“I have already negotiated with hospital management and changes are underway for a new structure this year,” she said.