The State House Health Monitoring Unit (SHHMU) baraza with the Bunyoro community on health service delivery feedback at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital (HRRH) revealed a couple of poor code of conduct among the staff, an act which resulted in a warning to enhance service delivery.
The verbal warning was given by the Assistant Director of the State House Health Monitoring Unit, Elijah Semaganda at an engagement on March 10 in Hoima City.
During the engagement, communities cited a couple of challenges including corruption tendencies among health workers, bad discipline, and patient neglect.
The community members expressed their concerns over the cited challenges, saying that they have been disappointed with little-praised services.
David Kasana, a resident of Hoima City noted that the doctors and nurses at the facility are reluctant and they are fond of neglecting patients especially at the critical times when patients need more medical attention.
John Bosco Ruhweza said that the staff are not disciplined and have corrupt tendencies.
Moreen Kusemererwa noted that doctors at the facility prioritise patients with money, a culture which leaves the poor to suffer seeking medical services.
Tadeo Asaba from Buliisa raised concerns over poor sanitation at the facility especially in the toilets and lack of mosquito nets on beds at the facility.
Jenifer Karungi, a Hoima City resident, cited arrogance possessed by the health workers while handling those who lose their loved ones at the facility.
She said that the hospital staff handles them without sympathy yet they are in a moment of sorrow.
Karungi also raised a complaint about the UPDF officers deployed at the gate of the facility, saying that the armed officers delay them from accessing the facility even when their patients are in an emergency.
Meanwhile, medical students (nurses) were also accused of being rude towards patients and also lacking customer care.
In response to poor codes of ethics possessed by the medical students, Promise Kusiima, a student nurse at Hoima school of nursing noted that they are sometimes rude due to patients’ tendencies of undermining them.
Margret Abigaba, a staff member at the hospital, who was tasked by the hospital director to address complaints of selling medicine, said that the facility does not have medicine for specialised treatment, noting that patients have to buy it.
On essential medicine, Abigaba noted that they have a challenge of a high number of patients who seek services at the facility, which leads to a medicine shortage.
Dr Ibrahim Bwagga, the hospital director appreciated the people for the feedback, saying the hospital management will take immediate interventions to put in place a better and conducive health service environment for the patients.
Bwagga, however, noted understaffing, saying that currently the facility is operating with only 27%.
While addressing concerns of the UPDF deployed at the gate of the facility checking users of the facility, Hoima city RCC Badru Mugabi said that the checking is intended to detect and intercept any wrongdoers targeting the facility.
In response to the challenges, Elijah Semaganda directed all the staff at the facility to completely avoid and desist from negative professional behaviours they have adopted, putting the negligence of patients in the forefront.
“I noted a complaint where an accident victim was injured on Saturday but attended to on Monday since the doctor handling the case was away from duty, and this is within negligence,” he said.
However, he noted the need to flag the hospital mortuary and additional specialised staff at the facility as more emergencies rise and need to be addressed.
Discover more from tndNews, Uganda
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.