Plan to eliminate "floor patients" in state hospitals

by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi

The Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) yesterday unveiled a comprehensive plan to reduce instances of patients being dumped on the floor at main State managed hospitals due to the shortage of beds.

GMOA General Secretary Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya said "floor patients" have become a very contentious issue in main Government Hospitals.

"Apart from the inconvenience, it also causes embarrassment to patients and difficulties to staff which also could affect the quality of their services", Dr. Padeniya added.

The GMOA proposes to implement a seven prong program to reduce "floor patients", at Government hospitals. The GMOA proposals envisage upgrading peripheral hospitals and also providing more specialists care at the periphery.

"Besides, focus should be made to build trust on the care administered in the periphery. That would encourage more patients to seek treatment from hospitals in their own area", he said

Dr. Padeniya explained that there are no floor patients at every hospital. "We find floor patients only at main hospitals around the Colombo suburbs. This is because most patients are seeking treatment from specialists doctors attached to main hospitals."

He said patients too had a responsibility to seek treatment from the nearest hospital while at the same time they also have a right to obtain treatment at main hospitals. "Therefore, emphasis should be made to upgrade peripheral hospitals."

Dr. Padeniya stressed that at the same time, health authorities should take steps to set up Preliminary Care Units (PCU) at the main hospitals.

"Such units have already been set up at four hospitals and it has proved that these units have been able to reduce the number of admission by 50 per cent. That would also reduce the cost on the health service", he said.

He explained that those PCUs will help doctors to do a better observation on patients before admitting them to hospitals. "While providing specialists care to patients, health authorities will be able to keep patients under 24 hour surveillance before discharging or admitting them to hospitals. This is very cost effective."

Dr. Padeniya said health authorities should also pay attention to improve patient care and readjustment of patient care delivery network.

"The Health Ministry also needs to pay attention to introducing a referral system which would help maintain a better service", he added.

Dr. Padeniya requested the Ministry to appoint a committee to swiftly undertake those proposals to ensure a quality and equitable health service.