Ting talking to Dora Tinggang, a Penan from Pak Purau in the interior of Baram and her one-week-old infant, who were waiting for their turn for a medical check-up.
MIRI: The congested Maternity and Child Health Clinic at Tanjong Lobang here is now literally bursting at the seams due to the growing number of patients and worsening traffic due to insufficient parking spaces.
With only 35 medical personnel and supporting staff which include three doctors to treat some 300 patients daily, it is really a heavy task, said Piasau assemblyman Datuk Sebastian Ting in describing the situation.
In sympathising with the staff as there was not enough manpower, he said: “Yet they have to care for 300 patients daily. It’s a heavy task indeed and the staff feel so much under pressure”.
On the three doctors, Ting foresaw that if one of them were to be away for a vacation, there would be only two doctors to cater to all the patients, who come from the city, Taman Tunku, Lopeng, Bakam and from as far as Pujut 7.
Although the quality of service is satisfactory, Ting said there was much to be done to improve the situation before more staff and funds could be secured. Ting told this to reporters during his visit to the clinic yesterday.
To make matters worse, the clinic has less than 100 proper parking bays for the public, forcing motorists to double-park by the roadside, resulting in bad congestion at the premises.
Besides the acute shortage of staff and car parking spaces, Ting was also concerned about the convenience and comfort of the staff and patients.
As such, he hoped the nine units of air-conditioners in the clinic which were not functioning well would be looked into as soon as possible. The computerisation of services, including the call system for patients should be worked out too, he suggested.
Yesterday’s visit was made to enable Ting gain more information on the clinic’s condition, including efforts to provide quality services to the people.
Meanwhile, a senior medical assistant, Paul Mpadai, said they were in dire need of additional medical staff, doctors, specialists and parking spaces to meet the fast growing number of patients.
“On average, we cater to some 300 patients daily. All this while, we strive and give our utmost best to serve the patients despite the heavy workload because of understaff,” he said when met by the reporters at the clinic.
Paul hoped the authority concerned would strive to facilitate efforts in acquiring the urgently required facilities for the clinic.