Written By Gabreila Patram
THE Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has explained that the security guard who delayed entry of the taxi carrying the pregnant Coretta Sharpe to the Maternity Ward was required to check on the persons in the vehicle in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedure.

The GPHC said in a press release that the institution has had instances when staff members were abused and recalled the incident when a nurse was doused with acid by a rejected male.
This publication made numerous calls to Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, Minister of Health Dr. Bheri Ramsaran and Chief Executive Officer of GPHC Michael Khan to have a response about the issue but all the efforts proved futile.
According to reports, 33-year-old Coretta Sharpe of Agricola, East Bank Demerara, went to the GPHC at 11 pm on Thursday evening after she began getting contractions.
Upon arriving at the hospital, she and the family members who accompanied her were told by the security guard that they could not enter the compound. The guard instructed that one person must leave the car, enter the compound and speak with a nurse before anyone else would be permitted to enter.
However, it is a hospital policy that pregnant women are given priority. It is stated that when Sharpe and her family members went into the hospital they could not locate a nurse anywhere. At 11.25 pm she went into labour and gave birth to, a 2kg baby boy.
The woman gave birth on the floor by the emergency area. She stated that the pain was too much and she could not handle it, so she had to push her son out and her stepmother caught her son, saving him from landing on the floor and being injured.
After Sharpe had delivered her baby in the compound, nurses began to gather around her and assisted in cutting the umbilical cord and took her to the ward.
The GPHC in a statement yesterday said that at present both the mother and baby are in stable condition in the Post-Natal Ward, having been attended to by Sister Batson- Lord and Dr. Luncheon.
Persons are hoping that the policies of the GPHC would be reviewed and the standards improved. Over the past couple of months, the hospital has been faced with numerous criticisms, especially with regard to the Maternity Department and the treatment of pregnant mothers when they come to the hospital, whether for checkups or deliveries.
Meanwhile, in an effort to sensitise pregnant women, their families and reporters on issues relative to maternal health, the GPHC will be publishing articles so that pregnant women and the general public can become aware of certain issues in relation to pregnancy and pregnant women.