Anesthetists' shortage worries minister
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday August 16, 2022 06:00
Sethomo said as such, the Selebi-Phikwe General Hospital currently refer patients requiring such specialist services to Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital where there is one specialist anesthetist and one intensivist.
This came about after the MP for the Selebi-Phikwe West constituency Dithapelo Keorapetse asked the minister to state the number of nurses in Selebi-Phikwe Hospital and clinics and those who are specialised; and what government is doing to address the shortage of anaesthetists, theatre/ high care specialists, midwives, eye nurses and other specialists nurses in Selebi-Phikwe.
He said the ministry is working to address the shortage of anesthetists and high care specialist/intensivists including; offering private based specialist anesthetists to work in government facilities on special contracts, increasing the budget for the training of more medical doctors in various specialists positions including anesthetists and high care in the country and the University Of Botswana School Of Medicine has also started training specialist anesthetists who will graduate to work as specialists in the country. “As such, the Selebi-Phikwe General Hospital currently refers patients requiring such specialist services to Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital where there is one specialist anesthetist and one intensivist.
The Selebi-Phikwe General Hospital and clinics have a total of 243 nurses including; 147 general nurses, 67 midwives, nine family nurse practitioners; six psychiatric nurses, two nurse anesthetists, three community health nurses, one eye nurse, three theatre nurses and five nurse leaders. My ministry currently has 11 medical doctors released to undergo specialist training in anaesthesia,” he said.
In order to address the issue of shortage, he said his ministry has increased the number of training slots for specialist nurses effective from the 2022/2023 financial year nationally. In addition, Lelatisitswe said in Selebi-Phikwe Hospital and clinics, 20 nurses are currently on study leave while 19 are undergoing specialisation in various nursing fields while one is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in general nursing as follows; midwifery (8), psychiatric mental health nursing (6), theatre (1), family nurse practitioner (4) and Bachelor of Nursing Sciences (1).