Recent interviews with LASUTH hospital staff reveal shortages impacting patient care. Essential equipment and medications face constant shortages due to overuse, sharing between wards, and inadequate stocking.
While nurse-to-patient and doctor-to-patient ratios are met, all areas remain understaffed for high volumes, causing long wait times, strained resources, and provider burnout.
In this article, solutions have been proposed to address the staffing, supply, and resource allocation issues at LASUTH.
Inadequate Staffing Levels and Resource Mismanagement
Essential equipment breaks down frequently from overuse and sharing between wards, while newer tools sit unused in storage.
As one nurse explained, “Overuse of tools occurs every time due to constant sharing within ward A&B of the same unit.”
Critical medication shortages, though rare, require desperate measures like personal purchases or donations from other patients. “It rarely occurs, and we can always get those common drugs from pharmacies around the hospitals,” a doctor reported.
These challenges take a toll on staff wellbeing and morale. One nurse confessed, they’ve considered resigning due to work overload exacerbated by shortages in their ward.
Others expressed frustration over the mismanaged distribution of supplies, noting that “the right equipment to provide quality care is usually hoarded in
some unit’s stores which makes it more difficult to perform procedures in a standard way.”
The Challenge of doctors and nurses leaving the country
Though recruitment efforts persist, the the rate of healthcare worker emigration continues to climb. Without intervention, LASUTH faces severe staff and resource crises.
Inadequate salaries and benefits also impact retention of qualified personnel. While hospital leadership makes some attempts to address shortfalls, staff feel more could be done.
Suggestions include improving stocking of new equipment, additional funding, re-evaluation of policies around resource allocation, and partnerships with private hospitals. However, solutions likely need to address root causes like insufficient healthcare budgets and poor facility management.
LASUTH’s staffing and supply challenges reflect wider healthcare system issues in Lagos. Yet it is the patients who ultimately suffer the most from crowded wards, treatment delays, and overburdened workers.
Addressing Healthcare Challenges at LASUTH Hospital
Increasing Funding and Resources
– Increase healthcare budgets and funding to improve staffing levels, supplies, and infrastructure
– Provide higher salaries and improved benefits to retain qualified personnel
– Audit and improve management of resources and equipment within the hospital
Expanding Services and Access
– Pursue public-private partnerships to potentially supplement services and funding
– Ensure affordability and accessibility for low-income patients
– Collaborate with local pharmacies to help fill urgent medication shortages
Recruiting and Retaining Staff
– Make training and recruitment of healthcare workers a priority
– Implement incentives to reduce brain drain and emigration of personnel
– Give doctors, nurses and staff a voice in identifying challenges and solutions
Healthcare System Reforms
– Confront broader systemic issues like insufficient funding and mismanagement
– Individual hospitals can only do so much without wider reforms
Patient-Focused Care
– Keep the focus on providing the best possible care to patients
– Progress will require cooperation of all stakeholders
