Patients seeking medical care at county hospitals have increasingly turned to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) as an ongoing nurses’ strike disrupts services in several parts of the country, leaving the national referral facility dealing with a heavier workload.
KNH CEO Dr Richard Lesiyampe said the hospital had seen more patients who would ordinarily receive treatment at county facilities and other hospitals near their homes.
The increase has led to congestion and longer waiting periods, particularly among patients coming in for services that are not emergencies.
The hospital has asked patients seeking routine or non-urgent treatment to use health facilities closer to where they live whenever possible. KNH said the move would help reduce the pressure on the referral hospital and allow patients to receive care without unnecessary delays.
“KNH remains open and continues to provide emergency and critical care services,” Lesiyampe said.
The hospital apologised to patients affected by the congestion and asked for patience and understanding as staff handle the rising number of people seeking medical attention.
The pressure at KNH follows disruptions in health services across several counties where nurses and midwives are taking part in industrial action.
Some county facilities are operating with fewer health workers, leaving patients with limited options and prompting some to seek treatment at national referral hospitals.
The strike is linked to several concerns raised by nurses and midwives, including the implementation of collective bargaining agreements, employment terms, career progression and other unresolved labour matters.
The disruption has affected services in different counties, with health facilities forced to continue operations with reduced staff as the labour dispute persists.
The effects are now being felt beyond county hospitals, with patients who would normally access routine and specialised services within their counties travelling to facilities such as KNH.
The national referral hospital has not disclosed how many extra patients it has received since the industrial action started.
Meanwhile, county governments and health authorities are working to keep essential medical services running as discussions with the nurses’ union continue.
The dispute has also been complicated by court proceedings and differences over the implementation of agreements that had earlier been reached between the parties.
The situation at KNH shows how a disruption in county health services can put pressure on facilities at the top of the country’s referral system.
As patients move from affected county hospitals to higher-level facilities in search of treatment, national referral hospitals are left to handle a larger number of people, adding to existing demand for their services.