PATIENTS in the Female Medical Ward of Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) have been relocated into a more spacious, comfortable and conducive environment.
A release said the new ambience, coupled with the existing excellent patient care will, optimistically, lend to speedy recovery.
The GPH said the process took approximately three hours for all the patients to be safely moved into the new facility and the temporary Female Medical Ward was immediately dismantled and the area fumigated to allow for the relocation and expansion of clinics.
The release said all unwanted materials were removed and subsequently destroyed and patients of the Female Surgical Ward are expected to be relocated in this new week.
It said management wishes to remind relatives of these patients that they will not be allowed to take any linen (sheets), pillows, food or drink into the ward, as all the necessary materials and meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) will be provided by the hospital.
GPH said it is also moving towards having all patients outfitted with hospital gowns and this will eliminate the need for patients’ relatives to be taking clothing and other things for them.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy told the Guyana Chronicle that, while the relocation has begun, the official ribbon-cutting ceremony and opening of the building will be announced at a later date.
Construction works on it commenced in 2010 with a budgetary allocation of $716M for the first phase and an additional sum of $235M was budgeted for its completion.
The new facility, located along Lamaha Street, between East and Thomas Streets will accommodate approximately 300 in-patients. Each bed in it will be equipped with modern centralised monitoring devices, such as gas masks and heart and blood pressure monitors.
Additionally some 65 doctors and 60 nurses have already been identified to staff the new wing, which was built with the aim of bringing an end to the current overcrowding situation.
The GPH management has expressed gratitude to the relatives of those patients who were transferred for their cooperation during the move. Their compliance and assistance lent to the smooth, efficient and speedy transfer for which kudos were also given to the staff for their diligence and hard work.