The Management of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) wishes to clarify its policy requiring the provision of trained caregivers for patients who are unconscious, physically incapacitated or unable to independently attend to their basic non-clinical needs throughout the period of their hospital admission.
This policy is guided primarily by patient safety, dignity, comfort and the need to ensure comprehensive care for patients who, by virtue of their medical condition, are unable to independently attend to their personal and other essential needs.
It is important to emphasise that the provision of caregivers for patients in these categories is consistent with established good practices in healthcare delivery. While doctors and nurses remain responsible for the clinical and nursing aspects of patient management, certain supportive and non-clinical needs require additional assistance to ensure that patients receive holistic care.
The trained caregivers provide essential support, including assistance with personal hygiene, feeding where appropriate, patient comfort, movement as permitted by the clinical team, running necessary errands and other routine non-clinical requirements. Their presence also helps ensure that patients are not left without appropriate assistance when family members are unavailable.
PAYMENT ARRANGEMENT
To ensure continuous coverage throughout the day and night, the caregiver service operates on a two-shift arrangement involving two different caregivers:
- Day shift: N10,000 for 12 hours.
- Night shift: N10,000 for 12 hours.
- Total daily cost: N20,000.
Accordingly, a refundable deposit of N200,000 is required to cover the first ten days of admission. Where a patient is discharged before completing ten days, the unused balance of the deposit will be refunded in accordance with the hospital's established refund procedures.
The arrangement is intended to guarantee continuity of supportive care and ensure that patients who are unable to care for themselves have access to assistance throughout their admission.
CAREGIVERS FOR OTHER PATIENTS
For the avoidance of doubt, the engagement of caregivers is entirely optional for patients who are conscious, ambulant and sufficiently independent to attend to their basic personal needs.
Such patients and their families retain the freedom to decide whether or not they require additional caregiver support.
COMMITMENT TO PATIENT WELFARE
LASUTH recognises the financial and emotional demands that hospital admission places on patients and their families. Nevertheless, the hospital has a responsibility to put measures in place that protect vulnerable patients and promote safe, dignified and comprehensive care.
The caregiver policy should therefore be understood within the broader context of the hospital's commitment to patient-centred healthcare, improved service delivery and international standards of patient safety.
LASUTH remains committed to providing quality healthcare services while ensuring that every patient receives the appropriate level of attention and support required by their clinical condition.
Management
Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH)
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