Maintaining the intensive care units, operation theatres and essential services at the Gampaha General Hospital has become difficult due to the lack of nurses, Hospital Director Dr. Himali Wijegunaratne said.
She said that most of the nurses have gone abroad, some have retired and others have taken maternity leave.
There should be at least 30 nurses for essential services including the cardiac intensive care unit, the surgery unit and the emergency surgery unit, but so far no one has paid attention to solve the shortage, she said.
The responsible departments have been informed about the situation on several occasions.
It was reported that due to this situation, the hospital authorities had to limit the surgeries even yesterday.
Due to the shortage, the remaining nursing staff had been working overtime but it is impractical for them to work in this manner, the hospital director said.
