INTERN doctors at Labasa Hospital sleep at the laboratory waiting areas and beneath pantry tables during long shifts.
The hospital’s intern representative Dr Maca Ratabua said the harsh reality inside the hospital reflected the pressures young doctors face.
Dr Ratabua said the young doctors were balancing heavy workloads with inadequate rest facilities.
“We just take our sheets and lie down in the lab waiting area. Some of us sleep under tables,” she said.
While speaking during the mini Fiji Medical Association conference at Ramada in Labasa, she said the lack of designated rest areas for them meant interns were often forced to improvise spaces to rest after long hours on duty.
“That’s the reality right now,” Dr Ratabua said.
She said while the hospital provided meals during 12-hour on-call shifts, overall welfare support remained limited.
“This is the only consistent support we get, and we believe it can be improved.
“The lack of proper rest areas for interns affect both the wellbeing of doctors and the quality of care they provide to patients.”
She said proper rest facilities were urgently needed, stressing that doctors caring for patients also needed care themselves.
“For us to serve patients well, we also need a place to recover.”
