… “let the doctor make a report to the Police Station” – Health Minister
By Ramona Luthi
After it was brought to light that the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the New Amsterdam Hospital, Berbice has allegedly been physically abusive towards a doctor of the facility, Health Minister, Dr George Norton has advised that the doctor report the matter to Police.
“I would advise the doctor to report the matter to the police station, as I would hope that anybody that is abused does. Let him make a report at the station. If the doctor wants, he can address the letter to me and I would investigate. I have no problem with that. We cannot uphold anyone abusing others. It’s totally unacceptable,” Dr Norton said.
Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton
Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) Health Committee Chairman Haseef Yusuf, in a letter published in Guyana Times on April 14, 2016, stated that the New Amsterdam Hospital in Berbice has ‘’a matador who intends to ensure that everyone, from administrators to doctors to nurses is not spared of his vicious onslaught’’. He indicated that the CEO of the medical facility has been using the health institution as a coliseum to target the employees.
According to the letter, there have been several complaints issued against the CEO who is reportedly not only verbally abusive, but, of late, physically abusive. He has allegedly said that the facility belonged to him, in the midst of heaving his insults at patients, employees and sundry in a boisterous tone.
It was explained that on April 6, 2016, Dr S Alli, who was attending to three patients in the Emergency Unit during the afternoon session, went to the laboratory to uplift lab results for one of the patients. He was then approached by the CEO who reportedly “boorishly” enquired about his business in the room. When Dr Alli stated his reason for being in the lab, the executive hurled abuse at him and took him to the Medical Superintendent. After the issue was heard, the Medical Superintendent explained to the CEO that it was not peculiar for the doctors to collect lab reports in emergency cases. The CEO, not satisfied, stormed out of the office with Dr Alli behind him. The doctor then enquired from the CEO if he had any problem with him, and this reportedly further angered the executive, who allegedly pushed Dr Alli against the wall and waved his fingers in the doctor’s face, before asking if he wanted to know what the problem was.
Dr Alli immediately made a verbal report to the Medical Superintendent who advised him to submit a written complaint to her.
Yusuf also posited that a formal complaint was made by Dr Alli to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon on April 22, during the Ministry of the Presidency Outreach Programme at State House in New Amsterdam. The Minister assured him that the matter would be dealt with accordingly.
Yusuf further stated that it was at the said outreach that Alli met with him and relayed the incident, accompanied by many medical staff of the Hospital who felt strongly about the matter and empathised with him since they were recipients of verbal abuse from the CEO, but had not spoken out in fear of victimisation.
A complaint was also made by Dr Alli to the Director of Health Services, Jevaughn Stephens, who advised him to send his complaint in writing.
In his letter, Yusuf said that he was “calling for a Commission of Inquiry to be held for this incident”.
