By Navendra Seoraj

AN investigation has been launched into alleged unprofessional behaviour by staffers of the Diamond Diagnostic Centre following a series of complaints by persons visiting the East Bank Demerara facility to seek treatment. Several persons have told this publication that they experienced unpleasant behaviour, negligence and other negative actions by doctors, nurses and other workers attached to the health facility.
Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, Minister of Public Health, Dr George Norton, said an investigation has been launched and his ministry looks forward to rectifying the situation.
According to the minister, he too has received several similar complaints, not only about the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, but other public health facilities across the country.
The minister was prompted to look into the situation at the Diamond Centre after an asthma patient was allegedly barred from retrieving oxygen and forced to wait for hours before receiving treatment.

Dr Norton informed this publication that disciplinary action will be taken against those culpable in the case of the asthma patient.
During that incident, the minister was contacted and both the nurse and doctor on duty allegedly refused to speak to him, and reportedly said, “If he wants to talk to us he got to call us.”
Dr Norton explained that, “Nothing is wrong with speaking to someone over the cellphone, especially in the case of an emergency and what they did is unacceptable….Therefore, once someone is found guilty of this act, disciplinary measures will be taken so that order can be restored to the hospital.”

The minister said his officers are currently visiting every health centre across the country to ensure that they are efficient and functional.
“We are working hard across the country, trying to fix things and we have persons at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre complaining about conditions there instead of reaching out to us and behaving atrociously,” Dr Norton said, stressing that he will not accept such behaviour from anyone at any medical institution.