The Police Hospital in Accra has suspended leave for all its staff, the Acting Public Relations Officer of the Police Hospital, Corporal Faustina Nunekpeku has told The General Telegraph.
She explained that the measure is to help contain the pressure from patients on the hospital due to the strike by the doctors. She hinted that all staff on leave have all been called back to resume work because of the large number of patients at the hospital.
“There is pressure but not so much pressure we can’t handle so in order to ensure we have a better health delivery, leave has been suspended for staff for now; these include doctors, nurses and hospital staff. Even those on leave have been called back to come and assist,” she reiterated.
In an interview with the General Telegraph in Accra yesterday, Mr Nunekpeku said staff of the Police Hospital is not on strike and as part of the measures put in place, the hospital will erect more tents on the premises of the hospital to serve as temporal wards.
These wards, according to Nunekpeku, would be furnished with beds, curtains and air conditions to make the place comfortable.
She revealed that the hospital is looking at converting some of the corridors that seem appropriate as wards. These places would be furnished and beds fixed in there.
“The Hospital has a 100 – bed capacity; 70 for adults and 30 for children and in order not to be found wanting due to the pending issue we have put these measures in place”, Nunekpeku stressed.
The Acting PRO hinted that the Hospital has considered procuring more drugs and consumables to help in treatment of patients. When asked when the measures would be put in place, Nunekpeku noted that the Police Hospital “is currently managing the situation, but if the need arises, these measures will be effected.
“Currently, there are tents available and no one is occupying them, so if the need arises that our beds are full and OPD’s can’t accommodate the numbers, these measures will be effected”, she emphasized.
Nunekpeku revealed that before the strike, the Police Hospital had an OPD numbered between 250 and 280 daily, but as of midday when the news team visited over 150 patients had been treated, with more awaiting their turn.
The Police Hospital, according to her, now has patients visiting from Kasoa, Nsawam, Tantra Hills, Achimota with referral cases as well as emergency ones. The situation at the 37 Military Hospital was similar as doctors were seen attending to the many patients waiting at the OPD.
A visit to the Ridge hospital by the news team revealed further that there is a skeletal staff at post to cater for patients. The maternity ward, OPDs and pharmacies are all operating. There have also been measures in place to accommodate numbers, though the pressure there is low.
<<Print>>