A recent standoff between the Nakuru county health department and the hospital workers over the decision to disengage contracted employees brought to the fore the serious challenges affecting the workforce in the department.

The dismissal of more than 500 hospital workers caused a public uproar with questions being raised over the rationale behind the downsizing of the workforce, despite complaints of staff shortage.

Read: Over 780 Nakuru casual hospital workers to lose their jobs, despite Kihika's promise

A scrutiny into the human resource challenge established that the shortage of staff had direct impact on the service delivery at the various facilities.

George* is among the contracted nurses stationed at Nakuru level five hospital.

He revealed that there is a strain on the available human resources at the hospital to the extent that the nurses are overwhelmed by the huge workload.

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George explained that one nurse is forced to handle 20 patients against the recommended ratio of one nurse to eight patients.

“The problem which has been there for long was worsened by the termination of employment contracts of over 175 nurses from hospital,” he said.

The nurse disclosed that majority of the workers are demotivated following the unfulfilled promises of better remuneration and uncertainty over the future of their jobs.

PGH hospital contracted staff demonstrate outside PGH on June 28, 2023.

Photo credit: FILE

To cope with the situation, George says the nurses are forced to seek the help of the trainees who sometimes end up doing the work that is beyond their scope.

“The students who sometimes work without the supervision of the qualified staff end up making mistakes. This has on various occasions put the hospital in negative light,” said George.

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The Kenya National Union of Nurses, Nakuru branch Secretary Rose Masita noted that the county is facing an acute shortage of staff.

Ms Masita attributed the shortage to the many claims of negligence cases from the residents against the hospital.

“The county’s health sector was facing shortage of staff and the decision to release the contracted workers only made the situation worse. The lean staff remaining at the hospital are overworked and not given remuneration that is commensurate with the amount of work,” said Ms Masita.

According to the unionist, the current shortage of nurses at the Nakuru level five hospital alone stands at 300.

Mr Nyauche Otieno, the deputy in charge at the Psychiatric Centre in Nakuru level five hospital said the facility had nine members of staff serving a capacity of 70 patients.

The recommended ratio according to Dr Nyauche should be between 18 and 20 personnel for the said number of patients.

"The number of staff is not enough to serve the huge number of patients at this department," said Mr Nyauche.

Related: Confusion at county hospitals as fired healthcare workers report back to work

The Nakuru level five hospital medical superintendent Dr James Waweru denies claims of students performing roles meant for the qualified staff, noting that they all work under supervision.

Dr Waweru notes that the different types of trainees perform different scope of work depending on the levels of their study.

"We cannot allow students to perform procedures meant for the qualified staff without supervision. Even those on internships after graduating must work under supervision," says Dr Waweru.

The hospital boss despite admitting the need for more staff explained that the hospitals are no longer responsible for recruiting new staff, as the mandate was taken over by the County Public Service Board (CPSB).

Mr Charles Mwai, the CPSB chairman said the county has been employing hospital staff on contracts as a measure to bridge the gap in the workforce.

County Public Service Board Chair Charles Mwai says the employed medical staff are enough.

Photo credit: COURTESY

He explained that the county has so far employed 538 nurses on contract in order to fix the possible shortage.

According to him, the current number of staff in the hospital is enough to render services effectively as they wait to employ more.

"The fact is we need more staff at the hospitals though the resources are limited. However, the number that we currently have can comfortably serve," said Mr Mwai.

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