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Security high on Health Ministry’sagenda
A section of the site yet to be cleared
…as plans for new hospital wing unfold
Adequate security is one of the areas that is high on the agenda of the Ministry of Health, and according to Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy, measures are in place to ensure that all health facilities have an optimum security presence.
The Minister pointed out that the Ministry has always had a regular security service at all hospitals and health facilities, and that efforts are continually being made to enhance the system.
The Minister disclosed that there is currently a provision for some 91 security personnel to be added to the system, with the majority being directed to the hospitals and health centres in Region Six.
This move, Minister Ramsammy said is an ongoing venture to ensure that there is safety at all times at each public health facility.
Despite sustained efforts by the Ministry, a psychiatric patient who was admitted at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation psychiatric ward was recently able to succeed in setting a fire there, destroying buildings that house the Male and Female Observation Wards and walk-in Medical Out Patient Department.
Also the building which housed the Patient Care Assistant classroom, which was fully equipped with computers among other things, was destroyed.
The patients in the Observation Wards were immediately evacuated and suffered no injuries as a consequence of the fire.
Minister Ramsammy has noted that measures will be implemented to ensure the vigilance and visibility of security personnel at all public health facilities.
With regards to the gutting of the hospital buildings, the Minister said that although the incident was unfortunate, the Ministry had already streamlined plans to have them demolished to facilitate the construction of a new wing of the hospital.
“The buildings that burned down included the in-patient buildings for the psychiatric ward but they were being phased out anyway so there is no need for new plans,” he revealed.
Nonetheless, the Minister pointed out that the Ministry had since observed that there is need for an interim arrangement since the construction process will not be completed until another 18 months’ time.
The arrangements which have been put in place, according to the Minister, will see psychiatric patients seeking the services at the GPHC for a limited period.
“We are maintaining only an acute care service at the GPHC. No patient will be kept in for more than 48 hours,” the Minister asserted.
As a result, he said that all patients who cannot be adequately attended to within the designated period but require further attention, will be sent to the National Psychiatric facility at Canje, Berbice, where they will be admitted.
According to Chief Executive Officer of the GPHC, Michael Khan, measures have already been engaged to clear the area of the prospective construction site, noting that such works are slated to be completed by next week.
Khan disclosed that currently financing for the construction is being discussed at Governmental level with a view of determining how much would be available to be expended on the project.
He however speculated that it is likely that the works will amount to more than $20 M.
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