Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) now wants county hospitals to assist in decongesting the referral hospital as management cites an overflow of patients, a shortage of 600 medical personnel and overstretched equipment.
Admitting that the matter is hurting the institution, KNH Chief executive Lily Koros told legislators and journalists that the hospital would offer better services if the hospital only accommodated a number of patients that matched its bed capacity which currently stands at 2,000.
Speaking today after a fact finding tour by the Parliamentary committee on health over the recent rape allegations, Koros said that the hospital currently has a total of 4,700 medical staff.
Further, she explained that the biggest challenge the hospital faces is lack of enough nursing staff which currently stands at 800 for both night and day shifts that caters for more than 2,500 patients admitted.
“KNH prefers to have its patients here to receive treatment than sending them home. You can be sure that there will be patients sharing beds and a wide range of challenges if we go beyond the 2,000 mark. County hospitals should assist in this so as to improve service delivery at KNH,” said Koros.
