I am writing on behalf of the General Medical Department of Seri Manjung Hospital, a district hospital in Perak. The issues with lack of manpower is not something new as the problem has been persisting for years. What has been done? Nothing.
What are the effects? More good and capable doctors are leaving for the private sector and pursuing careers outside of medicine. Who will lose? The people of Malaysia.
The basic principle of medicine is to provide the best possible holistic care to a patient. This is not possible, given the current workload and lack of manpower. General medicine has the highest workload and number of patients compared to other departments.
The general medical department has the highest number of admissions compared to other specialties, and this is proven by the fact that general medical occupies four wards, compared to other specialties. And most times, the number of patients is so overwhelming that we have our own patients lodging at other wards.
On top of that, general medicine provides support and care to other disciplines such as orthopaedics and general surgery. There are days where one doctor could have 16 to 20 patients under their care alone.
Picture yourself being in the care of this busy doctor. How likely will you be missed out or missed the ‘golden period’ to save your organs from further deteriorating? If I do want to get the attention of this doctor, I would simply have to collapse in front of him.
We have been crying for help from the hospital director for months, but we do not see hope anytime soon. Instead, more of our own colleagues are leaving and we have to take on their on-call burdens. For months, we have raised the issue of manpower shortage to the director, but it seems our cry for help has fallen on deaf ears.
As a medical officer who wishes to specialise in this field, instead of strengthening my knowledge and learning new skills to be a competent physician, I am mastering my skill as a “runner” and “physician assistant”.
Instead, I learn how to restock blood tubes, location of central sterile supply department (CSSD) items, and how to troubleshoot printers and arterial blood gas (ABG) machines. Typing this out is an embarrassment and disappointment.
Due to lack of manpower, the doctors are often burdened with the task of restocking items and the accompanying paperwork. The tiny little inconveniences always delay our urgent work.
It is the responsibility of the ward sisters and nurses to make sure all items are enough. Often, we have to walk to other wards to get needed items, but there are times when other wards are out of stock too.
I am speaking out not only for medical officers, but for house officers who will become medical officers one day. House officers are basically interns who need training and guidance. We may have been at the top of the class in medical school but the real-life practice of medicine is different.
House officers need proper training to be competent medical officers one day as well. House officers are not your personal assistants or extra hands that carry out hospital support staff members’ duties. With the lack of manpower, we simply do not have time to explain or guide them in any way.
This lack of manpower has affected our mental and physical health, and the worst happens when we are on call. The general medical department in Hospital Seri Manjung has no house officers. The medical officers are forced to do clerical work, examine, perform venepunctures, and request urgent radiological exams if needed.
Now picture this – on-call medical officers whose responsibilities start from 5.00pm until the next day at 8.00am. Within that period, the on-call medical officers could have attended to at least 10 patients, where each patient could have taken 30 minutes to an hour for proper assessment, not to forget attending to existing unstable patients in our wards.
Do you think these medical officers are well rested and mentally capable to provide safe care to your loved ones? There are days when we work overtime without a break in between.
To all the patients and their families, I am sorry I did not attend to your dying ones because I was attending to another dying patient. I am sorry I couldn’t save your loved ones on time because I was the only doctor on duty who is performing procedures. I am sorry my other teammates couldn’t respond to your emergencies because there is simply no one left.
To my consultants, physicians, and family, I am sorry if I do not wish to proceed any further with this career, despite your high hopes and dreams for me.
I am writing this not only to reiterate the lack of manpower in our health care system now, but also to highlight how much your health or your family members’ health will be affected if you ever come to us.
CodeBlue is giving the author anonymity because civil servants are prohibited from writing to the press.
- This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of CodeBlue.
