Upper East Regional Hospital appeals for urgent nurse recruitment

Management at the Upper East Regional Hospital (UERH) in Bolgatanga has issued an urgent appeal for nurse recruitment to address a critical staffing shortage. Hospital administrators reported that the nursing workforce has declined from approximately 460 to about 390 staff members, according to the facility’s third-quarter report.

Samuel Azure Atuba, Head of Administration at UERH, informed leaders of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) that the shortage is causing excessive workloads and staff burnout. Chief Nursing Officer Catherine Ayoka noted that the high pressure has led to emotional distress among staff and reported instances of work-related stress linked to pregnancy losses.

The hospital leadership is calling on the GRNMA to intensify advocacy and pressure policymakers and employers to act, warning that the current situation threatens the quality of patient care.