SANDAKAN – Words of encouragement from the public and flowers from fellow staff help lift the spirits of Duchess of Kent Hospital (HDOK) health workers, who are stretched to the limit following an influx of Covid-19 patients in recent days.
Not only do they have to work long hours, said hospital director Dr Francis Paul, but doctors, nurses and laboratory staff are also putting themselves at risk of contracting the coronavirus, with some having to self-isolate after being in close contact with positive cases.
He said 125 staff are currently undergoing a 14-day quarantine.
“We cannot deny that a lot of them are frustrated, tired... some are even angry. They do not get enough sleep, they cannot go on holiday. Most importantly, they are really tired,” he told reporters at the Sandakan sports complex’s badminton hall, which is serving as a ward for Covid-19 patients.
“Motivating the staff is important. We try to spread positive vibes among them. We do not blame anyone, and when we face problems, we find common ground to resolve the problems together.
“We do not yell at each other. Instead, we send greetings and positive messages.”
He said the hospital’s psychiatry unit actively reaches out to employees, sending them fruits, flowers and thank-you cards to show appreciation for their hard work.
“It really worked on me. I received fruits and felt like tearing up. I would have a wide smile even when I was stressed.”
Words of encouragement from the public are also a great source of motivation, he said.
Dr Paul said there are 400 beds at HDOK, 100 of which are for coronavirus patients.
“This is obviously not enough. So, we have ward extensions, or treatment centres, outside the hospital building.
“We have Anjung Kasih at HDOK with 36 beds, the Sandakan Nursing College at HDOK (40 beds) and the Batu Putih flats at Mile 7 (230 beds).
“The latest additions are the 200 beds in the sports complex’s badminton hall, which will be ready for use on either Tuesday or Wednesday.”
He said the ward in the badminton hall will be used to treat serious cases, where patients have symptoms of pneumonia, while Block F of the Batu Putih flats is housing “stable” patients waiting to be discharged.
Newly confirmed cases are admitted to the hospital for five days, as this is when they are most infectious, he said.
“As of now, we have 419 beds for Covid-19 patients, excluding the 200 that have not yet been declared in the sports complex. If there is a need, we will use more beds in the Batu Putih flats, which could be up to 400.”
He said HDOK staff have been receiving assistance from health facilities outside Sabah, thanks to the Health Ministry.
“We are just staying strong and doing the best we can, at least for 14 days, until all our staff return from their quarantine.”
The hospital has also issued a call for volunteers, said Dr Paul.
“Right now, we have a small group of volunteers, but their role is still very small because we can’t have them inside the hospital. They are not trained in healthcare, so we can’t risk them going inside, where the number of Covid-19 patients is high.
“They have been helping in other areas, such as putting up beds in this centre (sports complex). We are also looking for volunteers to transport patients and deliver food to patients.”
He said HDOK has gotten a lot of support from the Sandakan Municipal Council and Disaster Operation Control Centre.
“We’ve never had to beg for anything. I just ask for what the hospital needs, and they provide it immediately. I am so thankful for their support and cooperation.”
Sabah has 3,127 active Covid-19 cases, of which more than 300 are being treated here. – The Vibes, October 13, 2020
