THE doctor and nurse who were on duty at the time when the photo of the woman breastfeeding her baby under a bed at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) was taken, have been identified and taken for questioning.This is according to Minister of Public Health, Dr George Norton during a telephone interview with the Guyana Chronicle, on the progress of the investigation.

Last week an investigation was launched following the publication of a photo in various sections of the media, depicting a mother breastfeeding her child under a bed in the GPHC Maternity Unit.

Dr Norton has since launched a full investigation into the matter.

“We have launched an investigation with the view of finding out how that was allowed to happen and to also take the necessary steps, including disciplinary action, so as to avoid [sic] this from occurring again,” Minister Norton had said, as he expressed his disappointment with what happened.

According to a hospital source, there is still some bit of uncertainty as to how the woman and baby ended up under the bed. Both the mother and baby have been discharged from the hospital.

Space issues within the hospital’s maternity section have been an issue in the past.

In order to curb the long-existing space problem, the Government in the 2016 National Budget has set aside $89 million for the hospital’s Maternity Unit.

Extension work began on the unit about a year ago, and is expected to be completed on May 15.

When completed, the unit will feature table-top foetal heart rate monitors, hand-held foetal heart monitors and portable ultrasound machines.

This facility will also house 50 beds and a 17-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), an Operating Theatre and birthing rooms that are soundproof.
GPHC is regarded as the national referral hospital, which caters for high-risk pregnancies, among other emergency cases.