— police to increase visibility at West Dem Hospital

TWO more doctors have been assaulted, allegedly by ‘drunken’ patients at the West Demerara Regional Hospital even as the Guyana Police Force has increased visits to the health institution.
The Guyana Chronicle was reliably informed that one of the two doctors was “braced to a wall” by a patient and sexually assaulted while on duty.
Additionally, medical personnel continue to be verbally abused by patients, many of them under the influence of alcohol.
Although the Guyana Police Force has indicated that it has beefed up security at the West Demerara Regional Hospital, doctors there believe that nothing is being done to protect them from aggressive patients.
“Nothing has changed so far, I don’t think anybody cares,” one doctor said.
Late last month, chaos broke out at the hospital after a patient was informed that an X-ray could not have been done on his arm at the time. It is alleged that the middle-aged resident of Belle West, West Bank Demerara, ‘chucked’ and pushed a doctor after being told that the X-ray would have been done another day.
He allegedly damaged property of the hospital in the process.
Divisional Commander Leslie James when contacted on Friday told the Guyana Chronicle that following his meeting with the Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence, a meeting was held with regional officials, including the regional executive officer, the assistant regional executive officer, hospital officials, and representatives of the security firm at the hospital.
The divisional commander said during the meeting, several measures were agreed, one of which was to increase visits to the hospital by ranks of the Guyana Police Force.
James told this newspaper that he has no knowledge of the recent attacks, but said the hospital’s administration was informed to make contact with the police once there is an attack, and they will respond promptly.
Weeks after the doctor was attacked by the Belle West resident, the perpetrator has not been brought to justice.
Subsequent to the first attack, which was made public, Minister Lawrence met with the divisional commander and the doctors and nurses who had suffered at the hands of aggressive patients. The minister had made it clear that she will press for legal action against the perpetrators.
“This matter will not just slide, I want the staff to feel safe and secure… their safety comes first,” Lawrence assured, during a meeting with the distraught West Demerara Regional Hospital staff.
Dr. Shonnette Jack told Minister Lawrence that verbal and physical attacks by drunken and impatient patients and their families are routine on weekends and holidays at the institution.