The staff shortage comes at a critical time, when the hospital’s Covid-19 wards are still at full capacity.
IS it a sign that Laguna’s health care system may soon be unable to cope with the current surge in Covid-19 cases?
The Laguna Medical Center (LMC) in the provincial capital of Sta. Cruz has reportedly requested to the Department of Health (DOH) for additional nurses to augment its staff who came down with Covid-19.
The request came after 25 of the hospital’s staff contracted the virus, while others have been placed on quarantine after being exposed to Covid-19 positive patients and staff.
The situation was exacerbated by the resignation of nurses and other staff who have decided to leave for better work opportunities abroad, Dr. Christina Marquez, LMC’s Infectious Disease Unit head, said.
“Humihingi kami ng tulong po kung pwede makapag-augment ang ating Department of Health kasi bukod sa kulang sa nurse dahil sa naka quarantine, madami pa rin po kaming nurses na umalis at nag-resign na din po, may mga offer sa ibang bansa. Hindi pa po napapalitan. Ang daming opening pero wala pong kapalit,” Marquez explained in a recent media interview.
“Yan po ay mga personnel na hindi lang po mga nurses, kasama po ang ating nasa admin staff. Mostly po nakukuha nila ito sa community hindi po dito sa ospital,” she added.
The staff shortage comes at a critical time, when the hospital’s Covid-19 wards are still at full capacity.
“Full capacity pa rin tayo ngayon kasi po ang ating mga waiting na pasyente ay madami po sa ating pasilidad so kung meron pong madi-discharge, sumakabilang-buhay na pasyente o magne-negative ay agad na meron itong kapalit na naghihintay dito sa ating pasilidad dahil napakadami ngang kaso na nahihirapan huminga o yung iba kahit po yung positive natatanggap na po namin kahit hindi po kami Covid-19 referral center,” Marquez added.
As of September 21, Laguna province has reported 12,029 active and 80,881 confirmed Covid-19 cases, with 66,546 recoveries and 2,306 fatalities.
(With report from PIA)
Tags: #OpinYonLaguna, #Covid19, #LagunaMedicalCenter, #staffshortage