• Home

Hospital morgue in need of more space

SHARJAH — Unclaimed bodies take up most of the space in Sharjah’s Al Qasimi Hospital’s morgue, said a senior hospital official yesterday.

Replying to reports suggesting that there was a shortage of space in the hospital’s morgue, the Chief Executive Officer at the hospital, John Burns told Khaleej Times said that there was place only for 12 cadavers.

“Because most of the cases we have are those of expatriates, there is a waiting time before relatives of the deceased show up to claim the body,” he explained. Burns, who has recently joined the hospital, also said that the Minister of Health, Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qutami had promised to increase the capacity of the morgue as part of the Dh350 million expansion project announced last year by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The expansion project also includes opening of a new heart unit and 200-bed facilities for women and children, he added.

He also rubbished reports that the paediatric ward was facing the threat of closure due to staff shortage.

“In general, there iS a shortage of nurses in the UAE, and we are no different. However, this does not mean that the two wards for children will be closed.”

He said that during the three shifts, a total of 11 nurses are on duty.

“There are seven nurses during the morning hours because of the rounds doctors have to make, while four nurses are on duty during the afternoon and evening shifts,” he added.

The hospital’s two wards have 48 beds for children which are normally filled to the capacity.

“My assessment it that nurses do not find the UAE, especially from India and Philippines, a feasible place now as the rents have gone up while the salary structure has not changed. Therefore, the country is facing a shortage in general,” said Burns.

Burns also explained that they had already placed a proposal with the MoH explaining the required number of nurses.