Upper East Regional Hospital appeals for urgent recruitment of 70 nurses

Management at the Upper East Regional Hospital (UERH) in Bolgatanga has issued an urgent appeal for the recruitment of new nursing staff to address a critical staffing shortage. The facility, a primary healthcare hub for the region, has seen its nursing workforce decline from 460 to approximately 390. This significant reduction in personnel has created an environment of extreme workloads, threatening the quality of patient care and the safety of medical procedures at the regional hospital.

The staffing deficit has reportedly taken a physical and mental toll on the remaining healthcare workers. Hospital management highlighted that the resulting work-related stress has led to severe adverse health effects among staff members, including cases of miscarriages. The administration shared these concerns during a meeting with leadership from the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), emphasizing that the current ratio of nurses to patients is unsustainable and poses a risk to both staff and the public.

In response to the appeal, the President of the GRNMA, Mrs. Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, acknowledged the severity of the crisis at the Bolgatanga facility. She committed the association to advocating for immediate intervention, promising to bring the hospital's specific needs to the attention of the Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Health. Mrs. Ofori-Ampofo further emphasized the necessity of mental health support for healthcare professionals who are currently operating under such high-pressure conditions.

The situation at the Upper East Regional Hospital underscores broader challenges regarding staff retention and the distribution of health workers across Ghana. While management awaits a formal response and recruitment authorization from the Ministry of Health, the hospital continues to struggle with the operational impact of the shortage. The recruitment of the requested 70 nurses is viewed as a critical step toward stabilizing the facility and restoring standard healthcare delivery to the residents of the Upper East Region.