Nakuru County Referral and Teaching Hospital has made Clarification on matters Patient Care and Hospital Waiting Areas that had elicited mixed reactions online.
In a press statement, the management of the largest facility in Nakuru county termed the claims by a section of residents as misleading claims circulating online alleging that patients at Nakuru County Referral and Teaching Hospital are being left unattended on benches.
“Let me state clearly and unequivocally: No patient admitted to Nakuru County Referral and
Teaching Hospital is left unattended on a bench. Every admitted patient is allocated a bed and
receives continuous medical attention from our doctors, nurses and support staff around the
clock.”
That patient safety, dignity and quality care remain the foundation of the Facility’s service and the guiding ethos of the institution.
According to Management, the individuals seen on benches within waiting areas are relatives and caregivers, not admitted patients.
The Management further stated that the waiting bays are designated spaces for family members during visiting hours or while awaiting consultation and other services.
“As the county’s premier referral and teaching hospital, we maintain structured visiting hours to safeguard patient privacy, support infection prevention measures and create an environment that enables our healthcare workers to provide effective care. For these reasons, caregivers are not accommodated inside hospital wards.”
The Management further appreciates that some relatives remain within the hospital compound beyond visiting hours because they have travelled long distances, faced financial challenges or simply wished to stay
close to their loved ones.
While the Management empathize with these circumstances, it maintained that the benches are intended only for temporary waiting and not overnight accommodation.
That the Hospital management continues to strengthen communication with families, improve security and lighting in waiting areas, and work closely with the County Departments of Health and Social Services to connect vulnerable families with available support services.
Further, the Social Work Department also remains available to provide counselling and referrals where necessary.
The Facility’s Management called on bloggers to get their facts right when writing about health matters within the County.
“We are deeply concerned by a growing trend, where ill-informed bloggers, often acting at the
behest of self-serving politicians, prey on public health facilities by spreading misleading
information for political mileage. Healthcare institutions exist to save lives, not to serve
political agendas. The condition of patients should never be exploited for selfish political interests or sensualization to mislead the public. We therefore urge members of the public, bloggers and media practitioners to verify facts before publishing or sharing information. Misinformation erodes public confidence and unfairly discredits dedicated healthcare professionals who serve tirelessly every day and night.”
The Management maintained that Nakuru County Referral and Teaching Hospital remains steadfast in its commitment to providing compassionate, dignified and timely healthcare, while patients remain highest priority, and no patient under our care is neglected or left unattended.