Addressing shortcomings at West Demerara Hospital...Augmented remuneration for ‘threatened’ doctors; other measures proposed

Addressing shortcomings at West Demerara Hospital…Augmented remuneration for ‘threatened’ doctors; other measures proposed

May 25, 2017 News

… health officials await response from Police Commissioner to boost security

A better remuneration package for doctors was among the proposals brought to the fore when officials of the Ministry of Public Health met with staff members of the West Demerara Regional Hospital yesterday.

The West Demerara Regional Hospital.

Also discussed was the need for an increase in the number of attendants and cleaning staff at the hospital.
It is expected that the foregoing measures will be swiftly approved even as security measures are simultaneously enhanced at the regional hospital. However, the improved security offered by police armed ranks is dependent on a response from the Commissioner of Police, this publication understands.
Discussion in this regard yesterday came on the heels of reports of moves towards industrial action by doctors of the hospital’s emergency room.
The doctors have publicly shared their discontent over security fears, and conditions of work, especially the physical state of that department at the West Demerara Hospital.
But a senior health official insisted yesterday that the state of affairs did not yet result in “an industrial action or strike.”
There was however a situation whereby emergency room doctors took ‘sick leave’ earlier this week leaving the health institution short of critical staff.
But according to a statement issued yesterday by the Public Health Ministry, “Emergency Room doctors are back at work in full strength.”
It was, however, reported that the West Demerara Hospital has been plagued with “managerial issues” which resulted in the disapproving response of some staffers in the Emergency Room of the Region Three hospital.
Employees at the West Demerara Hospital have been facing abuse by residents of the mainly agricultural community for years. In fact it has been disclosed that both physicians and nurses have said that this state of affairs has been highlighted on numerous occasions.
Recently, a female doctor said she was pinned against a wall by an irate and intoxicated patient and was rendered helpless. The staffers of the hospital have moreover been appealing for a “safe space” at the health institution to secure themselves from the almost weekly attacks. Most of these attacks have reportedly gone unreported.
In the face of escalating aggression against hospital workers, Public Health Minister, Ms. Volda Lawrence, had met ranks of the Region Three Police and senior Region Three officials to work out a plan to better protect workers and boost their morale. But this, based on reports from hospital staffers, is still yet to be realised.
But in order to chart the way forward, Ministry officials met with the concerned representatives of the hospital and were able to find common ground. According to the Public Health Ministry Public Relations Officer, Mr. Terrence Esseboom, the meeting yesterday saw efforts being made to “iron out most of the difficulties [and] both sides agreeing to a raft of measures, some of which will be implemented in the short term.”
Some of the measures that are slated to be implemented shortly are moves to have armed ranks of the Guyana Police Force be a permanent fixture at the hospital. This will serve as an enhancement of the security for doctors who have been perennially abused – verbally and physically – by residents, especially when they are under the influence of alcohol or believe they have waited too long to see a physician.
It has been revealed that both the Ministry and hospital officials are awaiting the approval from the Commissioner of Police to have the armed police personnel in place. But there are reports that Region Three officials are prepared to fund this initiative, a health authority figure with knowledge of the recent discussions said.
The official said that “locks will be installed on several doors of the hospital to enable doctors and nurses to better secure themselves in the face of impending assaults by irate patients or their families.”