Sarawak Heart Foundation initiates donation of three Hillrom Beds to Department of Neurosurgery, Sibu Hospital

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The Borneo Post – written by Conny Banji conny@theborneopost.com

SIBU: Sibu Hospital is working towards becoming a regional hospital with more specialised services for patients across central Sarawak, its director Dr Nanthakumar Thirunavukkarasu said.

He said the state’s second- largest hospital had expanded its specialist services from 18 or 19 to nearly 28 over the past six years, alongside improvements to its infrastructure and facilities.

Dr Nanthakumar said he had been advocating for Sibu to become a regional hospital for the past six years.

“That means we are equipped as well as SGH (Sarawak General Hospital). So that’s what has been happening for the last six years. We have transformed a lot. We have improved a lot of infrastructure development. At the beginning, we only had 18 to 19 specialisations.

“Over the last six years, we have developed to almost 28 specialisations. That means we have various specialties, not just the core ones. The core specialties include radiology, medical, surgical and orthopaedic services.

“Now we have rheumatology and dermatology,” he said at the presentation ceremony of three Hillrom Centuris electric beds for the hospital’s Neurosurgery Department yesterday.

The beds were donated by TAS Offshore Sdn Bhd and Hartanah Kenyalang Bhd, with the donation coordinated by the Sarawak Heart Foundation.

Dr Nanthakumar said Sibu Hospital served a wide area stretching from Bintulu and Kapit to Belaga and Saratok, making access to specialised treatment in Sibu important for patients who faced difficulties travelling to Kuching.

“Sending them from here to Kuching is also another big challenge. So you only have a fraction of patients going to Kuching. Most of them either refuse or tend to stay here,” he said.

He said improving facilities and equipment was significant to support specialists and provide better patient care.

He pointed out that timely treatment was particularly crucial in neurosurgery especially for patients with traumatic brain injuries or bleeding in the brain.

According to him, the hospital has upgraded 10 beds to provide high-dependency care, with appropriate power outlets and backup switches to support patients requiring closer monitoring.

The three donated electric beds would improve comfort and care for patients who were bedridden or had difficulty moving independently, he said. “The hospital had completed its neuro-intensive care unit over the past year, with nurses undergoing specialised training to support the service,” he added.

Meanwhile, Neurosurgery Department head Dr Nelson Yap said the department, established in 2013, had performed nearly 6,000 surgeries and handled about 500 to 600 elective and emergency cases annually.

He said the department had helped reduce the need to transfer patients to Kuching for treatment, saving the government an estimated RM60 million in medical evacuation costs alone.

He said at least half of the patients would otherwise require medical evacuation, with each transfer costing at least RM20,000.

“We treat a wide range of conditions, including brain and spinal tumours, spinal trauma, aneurysms and other neurovascular diseases.

“We also provide 24-hour spine surgery and visiting specialist clinics in Kapit, Sarikei, Bintulu and Mukah,” he said. Dr Yap highlighted the department’s need to replace its ageing ward beds, some of which dated back to 1994.

“Three beds mean a lot for us. Three beds mean three victories for us in replacing our 30-year-old beds,” he said.

Also present were TAS Offshore chairman Datu Mohammed Sepuan Anu, TAS Offshore directors Yong Leh Ing and Lau Choo Chin, Hartanah Kenyalang chief financial officer Desmond Foo, and Sarawak Heart Foundation representative Pauline Kon.