The Sigatoka Hospital is facing staff shortage, says sub-divisional nurse manager for Nadroga-Navosa, Doreen Singh.

Ms Singh said only 24 nurses had been manning the medical facility which looked after people of the Nadroga-Navosa Province.

She raised the issue during the visit of Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad at the hospital yesterday.

Ms Singh said a shortage of human resource staff and nurses affected the staff.

“It is the shortage of human resources staff and also shortage of nurses. In total, I should have 51 registered nurses for Sigatoka Hospital, but currently, I have only 24. That is the biggest challenge,” she said.

“I have a vacancy for 27 nurses. We have more overtime and our team leaders, the nurses’ managers of various departments, are coming on weekends to fill in.”

In reply, Mr Prasad said Government ensured that it could replace those who had migrated abroad.

He said the issue pointed out to Government to recruit professional workers from overseas.

“There is only one staff for Sigatoka Hospital for X-ray Department. I think it does point to us as a Government and already the Minister for Immigration has announced processes and procedures to make recruitment for professional workers overseas more efficient,” Mr Prasad said.

“While we continue to train our people, we have to ensure that we can replace those who are going overseas where there is a huge demand, particularly Australia and New Zealand.”

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