Photo of a baby resuscitated by Emergency Doctors on a trolley: photo supplied
BY SAPT STAFF
THE National Referral Hospital is currently in a critical state that demands urgent attention from the government, as concerns from sick patients about deteriorating conditions, particularly in the Emergency ward, persist.
While the Ministry of Health and Medical Services acknowledged slight delays in renovation work due to resource and material mobilization issues by the contractor in the last month, they have assured the public that these challenges have been rectified.
Solomon Asia Pacific Times witnessed the state of the Hospital and patients worryingly expressed their concerns over the worsening state of the Emergency ward, where an increasing number of individuals are seeking medical assistance. Some patients have even reported having to sleep in tents at the hospital car park, waiting desperately to be attended to.
Emergency doctors at NRH have also confirmed the escalating severity of the situation. A medical professional shared on social media that the overcrowding at the National Referral Hospital’s Emergency Department has reached a critical point, posing a significant risk to the lives of those seeking medical help.
The gravity of the issue was emphasized by the doctor, who shared a distressing image of a one-month-old baby being resuscitated on a ward round trolley, forced to wait for available bed spaces. This dire situation is both frustrating and heartbreaking, highlighting the desperate struggle for life that our people are facing.
Immediate action is imperative to address the overcrowding and inadequacies in the Emergency Department of the National Referral Hospital. The current state puts lives at risk, and it is crucial for the government to intervene and implement necessary measures to ensure the well-being of the patients and the effective functioning of the hospital.
The Ministry of Health & Medical Services assures the public that renovation work at the Emergency Department has been resumed following a dialogue between the Procurement Unit of MHMS and the contractor last month.
To alleviate the demand for the emergency department during renovations, the Honiara City Council Health Division has effectively implemented additional cover and increased opening hours of their major urban centers, including Kukum and Rove, which has proven successful.
The NRH management has been monitoring the situation at the emergency department with daily reports. Regular daily statistics show that the number of presentations at the department has decreased because most people are initially seeking primary health care at the HCC clinics, while only very sick people are coming to the emergency department.
It won’t be too long before a newly renovated emergency department that is more friendly and functional will be reopened. The public has likely noticed continuous improvement of the infrastructure externally and internally at the NRH wards over the past months, thanks to repair and refurbishment works done by the NRH management with minimal funds. The public should be aware and assured that work will continue as planned.
Once again, the MHMS and NRH assure the public that their care is a priority. With available resources, the safety of the patient and staff is paramount. They call on the staff and the public to bear and be patient as the renovated Emergency Department will provide better service to the public.
