AN INCREASE in the number of healthcare workers, in particular nurses, was among the recommendations listed in the Auditor General’s Report for the Year 2021 Series 2 released today. 

According to the report, the Health Ministry (MOH), with the cooperation of the Public Services Department (PSD), must consider reinforcements to overcome a shortage of healthcare staff in view of increasing workloads, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The recommendations were following an audit carried out in four public hospitals, which found that the recruitment of nursing positions was not equivalent to requirements and had failed to comply with the recommended ‘level of care’ ratio, particularly when taking into account the scope of services provided in the Emergency and Trauma Department (ETD). 

The audit was done at the Sungai Buloh Hospital, the Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital (Kota Bharu), the Tunku Jaafar Hospital (Seremban) and Tampin Hospital. 

The positions at the four hospitals were filled by between seven and 62 nurses and ETD nurse shortages ranged from 61.2 % to 35.3%, according to the report.

It was also found that the number of nurses placed in Intensive Care Units (ICU) during the pandemic period was insufficient leading to them having to work overtime.

“The lack of nurses caused the level of patient care to be changed to three quarters (3:4) and the shift schedule had to be changed from two shifts to three.

“On average, each nurse will work more than 12 hours per day and will work ‘double duty’ when there is a shortage of nurses due to quarantine leave,” the report stated. – Bernama, February 16, 2023.