No more ‘doubling-up’ at GPHC Maternity Ward – Public Health Minister assures House
WORK on the extension of the Maternity Ward of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) is halfway complete, and will cater for 50 beds.This disclosure was made on Wednesday by Minister of Public Health Dr George Norton during consideration of the 2015 Budget Estimates and Expenditure for GPHC and the Ministry of Public Health.
Dr Norton, in response to questions from the Opposition, said the increase by 50 beds was based on an assessment by the hospital and pointed out that the Administration will work diligently to ensure that there is no “doubling-up” of patients on beds at the country’s main hospital.
The $235.9 million project will house offices, a neonatal clinic, “doctor-on-call” rooms, two operating theatres, a birthing room, and a remodelled ground floor with training rooms, as well as a Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit on the top floor.
The extension of the ward is expected to be completed in February 2016.
The GPHC is regarded as the national referral hospital where it caters for high-risk pregnancies among other emergency cases. The hospital delivers approximately 60 per cent of the babies born in Guyana each year.
Last year, the hospital recorded its highest birth rate with a figure of 6,085, and the services of this institution are always in demand by an abundance of patients.
Once the revival of health centres across Guyana is realised, it will aid in reducing the traffic of patients at the GPHC as they would be able to handle some of the cases that are referred there.
With the completion of the Maternity Ward project, the GPHC will be able to cater for the needs of referred patients as they will be provided with better and improved services.
$10M FOR SALVATION ARMY
Meanwhile, Dr Norton also informed the House that some $10 million has been allocated for the Salvation Army.
But while the allocation was praised by the Opposition, they enquired whether the Administration intends to partner with that organisation strategically to tackle issues such as drug abuse and other related illnesses in the near future.
The minister was receptive to the suggestion from the Opposition, and pointed out that he will be meeting with the Salvation Army to find out the areas in which it would be willing to work more closely with the Public Health Ministry.
PPP/C MP Cornel Damon in a passionate tone, asked the minister if any provision was made for snake venom for the Charity and Suddie hospitals on the Essequibo Coast.
He informed the House that a person in Region 2 died due to the absence of the medication at those hospitals.
Dr Norton in responding said such substances are provided on the basis of a request from the respective regions.
The Opposition also asked the minister about the large number of contract workers in clinical services and why they were not given permanent employment.
But Dr Norton told the House that the situation is not new, as it was inherited from the former Administration and he would make a concerted effort to correct the situation.
By Tajeram Mohabir
