Upper East Regional Hospital Says Nurse Shortage Has Reached Crisis Point

Management of the Upper East Regional Hospital (UERH) in Bolgatanga says the facility is in the grip of a serious shortage of nurses and other health professionals, and has asked the national leadership of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) to push for urgent recruitment, the Ghana News Agency (GNA) reports.

The appeal was made when the GRNMA National Executive Committee visited the hospital as part of a nationwide tour to meet members and health institutions.

Nursing staff down by about 70

According to GNA, the hospital’s Chief Nursing Officer, Madam Catherine Ayoka, said its third-quarter report shows the nursing workforce has dropped from nearly 460 to roughly 390. She told the visiting delegation that during one morning round she found about 45 patients on the paediatric unit being cared for by three nurses, and questioned how quality care could be delivered under such conditions.

Madam Ayoka said heavy workloads were contributing to burnout and emotional strain among staff. She also said some ward in-charges had reported pregnancy losses they linked to work pressure. These accounts have not been independently verified. She added that she expected some staff currently on leave not to return to the hospital.

The hospital’s Head of Administration, Mr Samuel Azure Atuba, described the situation as “very dire” and said policymakers may not fully grasp the difficulties health workers face on the ground. He urged the association to use its influence to bring the hospital’s case to the attention of the employer and other authorities.

GRNMA pledges to take the case up

Responding, GRNMA President Mrs Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo said nurse attrition was adding to the burden on the remaining staff. She assured management that the association would present the hospital’s situation to the Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Health.

She also called for stronger mental health support for nurses and midwives, noting that some health workers may be struggling without realising it, and said the association was already handling cases of substance misuse among some members that required support.

Background

The UERH is the main referral facility for the Upper East Region. Its management has in recent weeks also called for the hospital to be upgraded to teaching hospital status, a move it says would help attract and retain specialist staff.

Neither the Ghana Health Service nor the Ministry of Health had publicly responded to the staffing appeal at the time of writing.

Source: Ghana News Agency — https://gna.org.gh/2026/11/uerh-staffing-crisis-management-appeals-for-urgent-recruitment/