*Operating theatre, all medical records lost
*Other health facilities open their doors to displaced patients
The speedy response by staffers of the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital and the efforts of public spirited citizens, as well as volunteers from the nearby Guyana Red Cross, averted a major catastrophe when fire broke out at the institution yesterday. The Fire service also responded quickly and managed to contain the fire.
Fire broke out at the hospital at 132 Parade Street, Kingston, just after 7:00 hours,
And while the building was not completely destroyed, the operating theatre and all the medical records were lost.

According to a registered nurse, who asked to remain unnamed, she was beginning her shift when the fire alarm sounded. She noted that this was when smoke was seen coming from the office of one of the hospital’s doctors, the pediatrician – Dr. Rohan Jabour.
Thirty-seven adult patients, and four babies were hurriedly evacuated from the facility.
They were moved to the Police Sports Club, Barrack Street, one corner away, and were later transferred to office of the Guyana Red Cross Headquarters not far away.
As word of the fire spread, other health care facilities, both public and private, opened their doors to the hospital.
Patients, accompanied by nurses , were shifted to the Georgetown Public Hospital  (GPH) , the Woodlands Hospital, and the Davis Memorial Hospital.
Reports reaching the Chronicle are that the majority of St. Joseph Mercy Hospital’s patients are now resting at Davis Memorial.
By 9:00 hours, all the patients had been moved from the Guyana Red Cross office.
Attempts to contact the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Ms. Helen Browman, proved futile.
However, the Chronicle was able to contact the hospital’s Assistant Administrator, Mrs. Marjorie Park, who noted that the loss the hospital suffered is significant, particularly the loss of medical records.
She added that it will take “clever administrative work” to see the hospital back on its feet again.
“We are going to have to be clever to ensure that everyone goes back to work and find accommodation for those affected, not only the patients. The private doctors as well as those on staff have lost their records…I hope that our patients will understand our situation…We will do our very best to get back on our feet,” she said.
Parks expressed her appreciation for the assistance rendered by other health stakeholders.

Solidarity

In an invited comment, Health Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy also referred to the solidarity offered to the hospital.
He said, “Guyana has always been blessed with that, the solidarity that comes out in times like these; and because of that, we avoid major disasters.”
He also made it clear that the Health Ministry’s mandate does not only extend to the public sector, but also to the private sector.
“Whatever affects health affects us,” he posited.
“We will have to determine the sort of help that can be given in terms of recovery,”  he said.
Generally,  Ramsammy lauded the efficiency of the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital.
“We have asked all the private hospitals to extend privileges to the nursing staff. That privilege has already been extended by the public sector, so the GPH, even though space constraints exist there, has opened its doors,” he said.
The Health Minister added that the use of the Health Ministry’s transportation facilities have also been placed at the disposal of the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital.
Additionally, he noted that mechanisms are in place to facilitate needs for medicines and medical supplies
“Mr. Khan (CEO of the GPHC) has been instructed to cater to their needs; so what the management of the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital needs to do is not run around to many, many people. They have one person that they can go to,” he said.

Non-emergencies

Relative to non-emergency situations, more particularly the situation with the Nursing School which is located at the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Ramsammy said steps will be taken to ensure that the nursing students do not fall too far behind in their studies.
“What we will do is arrange with the Nursing School in Georgetown to make provisions for them to be accommodated,” he said.
Next Steps
Ramsammy said that the health sector in Guyana needs St. Joseph Mercy Hospital and the quality service it provides.
He said, “The sector has been improving, not because of the public sector alone, but because there have been general improvements both at the private and the public levels…the public sector needs partners like Mercy Hospital.”
The Health Minister said that, in looking for a silver lining, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital should view this as an opportunity to transform the facility into a better one.
Among several others on the scene of the fire were Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and Junior Health Minister, Dr. Bheri Ramsarran.