A survey conducted among 453 nurses of the Queen Elizabeth General Hospital (QEH) in Kota Kinabalu has found that patients are not getting the levels of care to which they are entitled.

Sabah Nurses Association president Bibi Florina Abdullah, who disclosed the findings, also said that half of the respondents admitted that they have lost interest in their work.

"Seventy-seven percent are demoralised after being scolded by patients and their relatives over their inability to attend to needs in time. But they can’t be everywhere at the same time," she said.

queen elizabeth hospital kota kinabalu 251008 Bibi Florina explained that many nurses have to accompany patients from one section of QEH to another or even to another hospital where patients are being accommodated following the decanting exercise last October.

"The result is that many wards have less than the required number of nurses and everyone is overworked. Sometimes, because of the congested conditions, nurses have to kneel down on the cement floor to record their observations of patients.

"Camp-beds in the wards also limit and block access to facilities like the emergency trolley, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and any life-saving procedures that should in fact be made readily available by the bedside of patients."

Of the respondents:

  • 97 percent feel that staff levels in the wards are below the required minimum;

  • 95 percent experience severe congestion in the wards;

  • 93 percent note greater dissatisfaction among patients and doctors;

  • 90 percent say overcrowding in the wards hinders access to critical facilities and services;

  • 91 percent feel that their image was affected because of numerous complaints about the standard of service; and

  • 89 percent see their work processes becoming increasingly difficult.

The uncertain future of QEH itself remains a cause for concern among patients and nurses "and 88 percent are in a dilemma on how to answer queries on the subject from the public".

The Health Ministry has announced that it will buy the premises occupied by the privately-run Sabah Medical Centre (SMC) but is yet to sign on the dotted line. The final cost is expected to top RM500 million after the cost of renovation is added.

What nurses say

The nurses are serving at what remains of the QEH itself as well as at its facilities housed at the SMC and at the QEH orthopaedic ward housed at the Likas Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

A recent check of the hospital showed that equipment lies haphazardly all over the place and the electrical wiring criss-crosses the floor. Numerous relatives and friends of patients stand around helplessly.

queen elizabeth hospital kota kinabalu A patient who was brought into the accident and emergency section on a stretcher could not be taken to an upper floor by lift, which have been out of order for months. Instead, he had to be carried up via the stairs.

Medical staff are still forced to take a shortcut, to save time, through the abandoned Tower Block where the beams have been corroded by the sea-sand used in construction work.

The survey had reportedly received the go-ahead from state health director Dr Marzukhi Mohd Isa and QEH director Dr Zuraidah Babji.

Salient points affecting nurses are that:

  • 75 percent feel ashamed when others criticise QEH facilities;

  • 75 percent say that their family members worry about their safety at work;

  • 70 percent say that stress has affected their health and that they spend less time with their families;

  • 67 percent are under stress and can’t concentrate on their duties because they don’t know what the future holds for them;

  • 67 percent are thinking of quitting, early retirement or even transferring to another hospital; and

  • 53 percent feel insecure and begin each day with a negative attitude.

However, about 25 percent of the nurses did not bother to submit their survey forms. Many said they were too embarrassed to tell the truth.