The Medical Director of Lacor Hospital Dr David Emintone has warned nurses and other junior medical staffs in the hospital to avert from verbally abusing and harassing patients when they come to get treatment from the hospital.

The warning was issued in a statement made during an annual dialogue workshop held at the hospital in honour of its founding Doctors.  The theme for the workshop was “facing the challenges of reduced external support while remaining faithful to the hospital mission.”

The medical director was responding to concerns raised by the public during the dialogue about the behaviour of some of the staff towards patients.  Dr Emintone revealed that they carried out an internal investigation and found that it is true that some staff are rude and can’t communicate well with their patients.

“There is nothing big, the only problem is poor communication skills by staff, some of you do not know how to communicate and this must stop” he warned.

Ms Atim Dominique Corti, the daughter of the late  Dr Corti who is one of the founding members of the hospital said that Northern Uganda is no longer taken as a region in need of humanitarian assistance, so even with the economic crisis in the region it is now very hard to get funds from donors.

She added that Lacor will have to work hard locally to get its money, because previously; of the patients who use to attend Lacor hospital, only 15% used to pay while 85% was paid for from donations and well wishers.

She warned that the hospital fee is going to rise drastically since donation had evaporated.  Atim also heads the lobbying team for Lacor Hospital in Italy.

Dr Isaac Ezati the Director of Health Service, Planning and Development at the Ministry of Health who represented the Minister of Health at the function, challenged Lacor to have a targeted plan so that the government can help them.

Other attendants advised the hospital to open an account that would be given to well-wishers to give money in support of the hospitals work, particularly in supporting the neediest as most cannot afford the cost of treatment.