Last Wednesday, the National Guard Health Affairs Training and Development Department in the Eastern province in collaboration with the Social Services Department in King Abdulaziz National Guard Hospital in Al Ahsa had a symposium and a workshop about the obstacles facing social services in the health sector in the lecture hall of the hospital administrative building. A number of specialists participated in the seminar which had four lectures and two workshops.
The CEO of the NGHA and the KSAU-HS President, Dr. Bandar Al Knawy said: “These lectures and workshops are free of charge and target all NGHA personnel and are accredited by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties. The number of accredited hours will be announced later on. They had been greatly received.”
Dr. Bandar Al Knawy also said: “The symposium addressed important and sensitive aspects of the medical work. It is one of the pillars of achieving the desired results in the healing process and is considered a link between the patient and medical staff. The papers presented were true to this tough profession and when done properly would lead to great and important results.”
The NGHA regional executive manager in the Eastern province, Dr. Ahmad Abdulrahman Al-Arfaj said: “NGHA is seeking a permanent basis to discuss such programs and seminars that aim to raise the efficiency of workers in the sector to achieve desired objectives."
“The symposium achieved an atmosphere of meaningful and constructive dialogue about various aspects of the social worker in the medical facility. The symposium discussed key aspects from the patient and physician to the social knowledge and how it aids in supporting this work.” Dr. Al-Arfaj added.
Moreover, Dr. Abduallah Al-Rshoud presented a paper on the Professional Development of Social Workers and Dr. Riyadh Al-Mazrou discussed the obstacles that social workers might face in the medical field who pointed out that "the lack of understanding that some doctors and nurses have about the role that medical social worker plays with the patients has reduced the benefits of this work.”
“Furthermore, referral of patients to some social welfare institutes like rehabilitation and handicapped centers leads to some obstacles in this field. Not to mention the absence of special budgets for social work departments in most of the hospitals such as medical equipments and travel tickets can lead the patient to stay longer in the hospital despite the completing their treatment.” Dr. Al-Mazrou added.
He also pointed out that: “One of the problems we are facing is the small number of social workers in some hospitals and the disproportionate number of the doctors and the patients which limits their time and efforts and might lead to neglecting some patients that need the social worker services, advice and guidance. Furthermore, there is no special place for the social worker to provide his services in some hospitals especially for individual cases.”
In addition, Dr. Mansour Al-Duhiman raised this question: how does the therapeutic team consider the social worker? He stated that it is imperative to change the popular view that a social worker’s job is simply theoretical. In fact, his role is very important.
Two workshops were also available in the seminar; the 1st discussed cognitive behavioral therapy and the 2nd was run by Dr. Saad Almshawah and dealt with techniques and strategies of rational and emotional therapy.