Abandoned elderly patients overwhelm GPHC

Mar 13, 2014 News

The incessant problem of patients being abandoned by their loved ones at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, (GPHC) has taken its toll on the institution.
When Kaieteur news visited the hospital earlier last month, some of the deserted patients were found cramped in a room of the male surgical unit. They were seven in number. Two each shared a single bed, while a few opted to lie on the floor.
The men claimed to be ‘making do’ with whatever the hospital has to offer because their families did not want them. During a subsequent visit to the institution, the patients related that some of their colleagues had passed away.
“We mekking do wid wa we got, we does get food and so most of us can’t walk so we family aint want we, “Terrence Teixeira, 67, of Lot 74 Success Railway Embankment related
Teixeira is unable to walk. He said that his relatives brought him to the institution to receive medical attention for a fractured hip last March. He has been living there since then.”Ever since, me get admit them neva come fuh see or visit. Me gat one daughter.”
However, Teixeira has spent a short time at GPHC, in comparison to others, some of whom said that this will be the fourth year as residents of GPHC.
Kenneth Jairaj of Swan Street Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara has been a patient of Georgetown Hospital for almost three years. He claimed that he was treated for multiple injuries, after he was admitted to the institution in 2012.
“Meh bin get in one accident and meh family leff hay and tell me dem ah come back, meh neva see none body till now. Me ah wait fuh go at de Palms. De only people does come fuh see awe ah people wha does do social work.”
GPHC staffers told Kaieteur News that it is often difficult to find accommodation for other patients, who are scheduled for admission.
“It’s quite a troubling for us, sometimes we have patients who come in looking for medical attention after accidents and so on and they have to wait for beds, while these persons are occupying beds because their families refuse to take them. We have received reports that a relative of one man has been sneaking into the hospital to collect his identification card every month end to go collect his pension. This is certainly not fair on the other sick patients.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of GPHC, Michael Khan explained that the problem has been ongoing for a number of the years.
“A significant number of patients have been deserted at the facility, over the years. The hospital currently caters to the needs of at least eight destitute patients, but we have been inundated with patients who have been abandoned by their relatives. This becomes critical because of the high influx of people seeking medical care here and there are times when no beds are available and these discharged patients are occupying beds,” Khan added
The CEO said while the problem has negatively affected daily operations of GPHC, it is not easy to find alternative homes for the abandoned patients.
“It is a very sad situation and when abandoned patients die, we are forced to bury them after a period of waiting for relatives to claim the bodies. There is a cost attached to the exercise of burying also.”
Mr Khan says that the hospital administration has partnered with governmental and non governmental agencies to tackle the issue.
“Many of the homes do not take patients, who cannot care for themselves and so we trying to encourage places like the Palms and other religious or charitable organizations to assist us by accommodating the able-bodied patients but those who cannot help themselves are often left in the care of the hospital until the day they die.”

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