Bandar Kuching MP calls for better management of washrooms at SGH

KUCHING: The sorry state of Sarawak General Hospital (SGH)’s public washrooms – a subject of many public complaints against the hospital for years has caught the attention of parliamentarian Dr Kelvin Yii.

The Bandar Kuching MP, who recently visited the hospital, said he had been receiving many complaints about the cleanliness level of the toilets there.

“The conditions are far from ideal – in terms of hygiene and cleanliness, these toilets are lacking.

“This condition is not just affecting patients, but also family members and other visitors coming to the hospital,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Following enquiries to the SGH management regarding the frequency and the quality of the cleaning job for the hospital’s washrooms, Dr Yii found out that there is only one company responsible not just for the cleanliness of the toilets, but also the maintenance and support services at SGH.

“The company was awarded the contract and concession to operate and manage Hospital Support Services (HSS) for 10 years, since 2015, at all 23 government hospitals in Sarawak – for RM183 million per year,” disclosed Dr Yii, adding that he had raised this issue with the Deputy Minister of Health Dr Lee Boon Chye.

Dr Yii also expressed his hope that the company would increase the quality of its services – not just those related to the cleanliness of SGH toilets, but also the overall maintenance of hospitals all around Sarawak as stipulated under its contract.

“I strongly believe there should be healthy competition in any industry – any monopoly, in principle, may compromise the quality of services.

“If they do not come up to par with the required quality and efficiency as stipulated in the contract, I would push for the contract to be reviewed, and for different industry players to participate through open tender in order to provide the best services for the convenience of the patients, staff, and members of the public,” he stressed.

During his visit, Dr Yii also presented a donation of ‘aero-link benches’ worth over RM11,000 to SGH’s Emergency Department for the comfort and convenience of patients and their family members waiting at the hospital.

“Many of the old ‘waiting chairs’ at the hospital are made of plastic which have become brittle (due to years of wear-and-tear), while some are broken and no longer safe for usage.

“So we got SGH the better, airport- quality link benches, which should be sturdier, last longer and hopefully, be more comfortable,” he said, adding that the new benches were donated by a Good Samaritan, who wanted to share her gratitude to all the workers at the SGH.

“We are grateful for her kindness and hopefully, the benches would provide comfort to the members of the public waiting at the Emergency Department,” he said, also extending his gratitude and appreciation to all doctors, nurses, as well as the medical and support staff members who have been working tirelessly to give the best medical treatment to all patients despite their busy schedules.

Dr Yii disclosed that over the past few years, the Ministry of Health under the previous government had been facing allocations cuts that affected not just its services, but also the maintenance of infrastructure and equipment related to healthcare.