Chairman of Oyo State Hospital Management Board, Dr. Akin Fagbemi conducted a surprise night monitoring exercise at Ring Road State Hospital (RRSH) yesterday, arriving at 11 pm to evaluate the facility’s operations.
During the visit, Dr. Fagbemi’s first stop was the Accident and Emergency (A&E) department, where he found three patients, two in critical condition and one stable.
One of the critical patients was a young boy and his mother, victims of a recent building collapse.
The A&E department had a Lady Doctor on call duty, supported by a nurse, an ad-hoc nurse, a pharmacist, a laboratory staff member, and a card issuer.
However, the mortuary attendant doubled as internal security, raising concerns about the facility’s security arrangements.
Dr. Fagbemi also visited the second phase of RRSH, observing significant staffing shortages. The Male ward had no nurse on duty, while the Female ward had only one nurse caring for four patients.
The Maternity ward, with eight patients, had one nurse, an ad-hoc nurse, and one ward orderly.
The Gynecology ward had a single nurse caring for three patients.
Moreover, the entire facility had only two security personnel on duty, stationed at the entrance, leaving internal areas, caregivers, patients, and offices without security coverage.
The Chairman identified critical observations, including the lack of security within the facility, inadequate staffing, and insufficient lighting, particularly streetlights.
The recent assassination incident outside the facility highlighted the urgency of addressing these gaps.
Other concerns included the absence of maintenance support at night and the absence of the nurse on duty in the Male ward.
Despite these challenges, Dr. Fagbemi commended the dedication of the staff on duty, particularly in the maternity ward.
The exercise provided valuable insights into the real-time situations at RRSH, underscoring the need for improvement. Dr. Fagbemi pledged to address the identified gaps, ensuring quality care for patients and enhanced security for staff and facilities.