KNH records surge in patient numbers over doctors’ strike
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Kenyatta National Hospital has recorded an overwhelming increase in the number of patients seeking care, following the ongoing doctors’ strike in Kiambu and Nairobi counties.
With medical care being hard to access in most public health facilities, KNH noted that patients in need of urgent treatment are flocking the facility, forcing staffers to work under immense pressure.
“The Maternity Department has been hardest hit, with the Labour Ward and Newborn Unit now handling more than twice their normal capacity. Sadly, some of the mothers and babies are arriving too late, and a few have had poor health outcomes despite the best efforts of our dedicated medical teams,” said KNH in a statement.
“The increased demand for care has also placed immense pressure on essential hospital services such as operating theatres, the blood bank, and diagnostic services.”
KNH assured that its staff members are working to attend to every patient, but “resources are stretched to the limit”.
“We continue to do everything possible to save lives under these difficult circumstances,” added KNH.
KNH however urged all striking doctors to return to work to minimize the rising pressure of patients seeking medical care, to avoid endangering their lives.
This came as Murang’a County’s flagship Level 5 hospital announced it is experiencing an unprecedented surge in patient numbers following recent expansions in the county’s healthcare infrastructure.
The hospital said they are getting up to 2,000 outpatients and 500 inpatients being attended to daily — the latter matching the facility’s full bed capacity.
The sharp increase in patient flow has been attributed not only to improved local access but also to an influx of patients from neighboring counties, drawn by upgraded services and the county’s commitment to providing quality care.
In response, the county government has moved swiftly to implement emergency interventions aimed at maintaining clinical standards and easing pressure on the overburdened facility.
“We are committed to offering quality services to each and every client,” a statement from the County Department of Health reads.
“This surge, while a testament to improved confidence in our system, demands immediate and strategic action.”
Key measures taken include reorganization of emergency staff within the casualty department to improve response times and recall of staff on leave to boost workforce numbers.
There is also deployment of marshalls to help manage patient flow and direct clients efficiently and opening of new wards to increase bed capacity.
The hospital said there is linkages with Level 4 hospitals across the county to redistribute non-critical patients and a 24-hour lab and radiology services to support clinical diagnostics around the clock.
Despite these measures, staffing remained a critical challenge.