Plans to boost security at West Dem Hospital – REO

Attack on doctors

…victim says Police urged her to “drop” assault report

The Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) Administration is currently negotiating with the Guyana Police Force (GPF) for the opening of an outpost at the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), according to Regional Executive Officer (REO) Dennis Jaikaran.
This comes one day after a doctor at that health institution was assaulted by a patient.

Jaikaran said the Administration was in the process of negotiating a deal with the Police Force to have regular patrols at both the Leonora Diagnostic Centre and the WDRH with the possibility of opening an outpost. He noted that the assault of a doctor at the WDRH raised serious concerns about security at the Region’s hospital; hence, the reason for an outpost.
“With the (Police) Outpost, we will be able to improve security at the hospitals and prevent future incidents. The Police would also be working with the security guards at the hospital,” he said.
Regional Health Officer, Dr Niall Utham told Guyana Times that the matter was being investigated and they met with the Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence on Tuesday.
Lawrence said she would oppress for legal action against those who recently assaulted West Dem Hospital staff and destroyed some of its property.
Lawrence made the disclosure on Tuesday during a meeting with doctors and nurses of the Region Three hospital at her Brickdam, Georgetown office.
“This matter will not just slide; I want the staff to feel safe and secure…their safety comes first,” Lawrence assured the team during the meeting with the distraught WDRH employees.
Dr Shonnette Jack, who worked on the evening of the assault, told Lawrence that verbal and physical attacks on WDRH staff by drunken and impatient patients and their families were routine on weekends and holidays.
During Sunday night’s physical altercation, Dr Jack said there were “10 persons fighting in the Emergency Room for about 25 minutes”. She said during the melee, chairs were being hurled in the direction of the WDRH staff. Police ignored repeated calls for help, Dr Jack emphasised.
Forced to visit the station on her own, Dr Jack said Police refused to take her statement and later “tried to intimidate me to drop the story”.
“I am totally fed up and discouraged. It doesn’t feel good working anymore,” admitted young Dr Pooran Outar, who said he has “countless experiences” being attacked by irate patients and their disgruntled families.
The assaults on WDRH staff are not confined to weekends or to the Emergency Room (ER), Medical Superintendent, Dr Bibi Jabar and Regional Health Officer (RHO), Dr Naail Uthman confirmed.
Minister Lawrence and a team will visit the embattled WDRH today to hold further discussions with the worried staff. Assistant Regional Executive Officer (AREO) Jennifer Ferreira-Douglas will also meet with the firm providing security for the WDRH and D Division (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) Commander Leslie James to raise the issue of Police’s non-response to calls for help from staff of the hospital.
As an interim measure, staff want proper locks on all of the hospital doors and a designated safe-place in the event that any future attacks become extremely life-threatening.
Following the visit by Minister Lawrence, it is expected that security will be boosted for the WDRH staff.
According to reports, the incident occurred around 20:30h when a male, middle-aged patient arrived at the Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit complaining of pain in his left arm. He was then attended to by a male doctor, who informed him that he would require an x-ray and referred him to a private institution, since the service was not available at the time.
The patient, in his drunken state, began hurling indecent language at the doctor and then proceeded to ‘chuck’ him. After which another patient observed the incident and intervened. Following the intervention, the relatives of the doctor’s assailant joined in and a scuffle ensued.
Security was unable to control the situation, and the Police were called in and the parties involved were all taken to the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station, where statements were taken and the alleged assailant was sent for medical treatment at the Diamond hospital.