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Staff cadre at Trinco hospital inadequate

by Trincomalee correspondent

Though the Trincomalee hospital has been upgraded to a general hospital there are no proper facilities to cater to the needs of the patients. Though a general hospital should have two surgeons, two physicians, two obstetricians, two paediatricians there are just one each of these specialists. When anyone of these doctors go on leave there is no one to attend to the patients causing great inconvenience and urgent cases have to be transferred either to Kandy or Colombo increasing the work load at those hospitals.

This hospital has no eye surgeon for almost over fifteen years and people with eye problems whether it be even a minor problem were compelled to seek treatment either in Colombo or Kandy.

Though scanning facilities are available this hospital has no radiologist. As a result unnecessary deaths caused among patients including expectant mothers. According to the cadre this hospital should have five X Ray technicians but the only technician is a retired and re-employed person. When he goes on leave those patients who require X'Ray have to be sent elsewhere.

There is a severe shortage of nursing officers. Though the cadre requirement is 180 only 89 are available which is less than 50%. As a result they were forced to work for 18 hours a day causing deterioration of nursing care to patients. Only seven medical laboratory technologists including two re-employed are available as against the cadre requirement of 17. With no pathologist very basic and simple blood or urine investigations were done. All other investigations were referred to the Medical Research Institute in Colombo. It takes about 2 to 3 months to get the report back.

Catgut is not available at this hospital for the past three months and is being borrowed from other hospitals. A general hospital should have two units of each major specialists. This hospital is also short of a Judicial Medical Officer. A new building is required to house these units.

Recently representatives of a Japanese aid organisation have visited this hospital on the request of the Acting Medical Superintendent Dr. B. Janaikabahu and has promised to put up a building with modern facilities, but only after peace talks succeeded.

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