THE Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) is warning motorists, motorcyclists and pedestrians to exercise greater care on the nation’s roadways as a growing number of patients with serious injuries from motor vehicle accidents place increased demands on the hospital’s emergency, surgical and intensive care services.
The warning came in a recent GPHC road-safety awareness video highlighting the far-reaching consequences of road accidents, including severe trauma, prolonged hospitalisation and the substantial resources required to treat critically injured patients.
The hospital said every motor vehicle accident has an impact beyond the roadway, placing pressure on emergency response teams, diagnostic services, surgeons and other healthcare professionals involved in saving lives.
Medical Registrar for Neurosurgery, Dr Asif Subha, attributed many road accidents to driver negligence and a failure to observe basic safety measures, including the use of seatbelts and motorcycle helmets.
“We have a lot of motorcycle injuries and, of course, caring for our pedestrians,” Dr Subha said, noting that speeding remains a major concern.
He stressed that motorists must recognise that roads are shared by vehicles, pedestrians and other road users, with pedestrians often suffering severe trauma when accidents occur.
Dr Subha also urged road users to exercise additional caution as Guyana’s rapid development brings increased construction activity and temporary disruptions to roadways.
“We just have to be careful and be mindful of our roadways. Both the drivers, the commuters, pedestrians, everybody has to play a role,” he cautioned.
The neurosurgery specialist also highlighted the serious consequences of polytrauma, which occurs when a patient sustains multiple traumatic injuries affecting two or more body systems.
He explained that a single accident can result in injuries to the nervous system, chest, abdomen or long bones, potentially causing significant blood loss and placing the patient’s life at risk.
According to Dr Subha, polytrauma is generally associated with high-velocity incidents, including motor vehicle accidents, falls and sports injuries. However, motor vehicle accidents remain the most common cause of polytrauma cases seen in Guyana.
The impact is particularly evident within the GPHC’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where critically injured patients require extensive medical resources and prolonged periods of specialised care.
Head of the Department of Anaesthesia and ICU, Dr Fernando Ramirez, said the GPHC currently has six ICU beds.
At the time of the awareness video, four patients in ICU One were being treated for severe brain injuries resulting from motorcycle accidents, while two other patients in ICU Two also required critical care.
Dr Ramirez described the situation as a growing trend, pointing to the considerable resources required when patients involved in motor vehicle accidents are admitted to the ICU with traumatic brain injuries.
He noted that the burden extends beyond the immediate treatment, as critically injured patients can require prolonged ICU stays, further increasing the demand on limited resources.
The GPHC said the consequences of road accidents extend to families and healthcare workers, with every serious accident creating a chain of medical, emotional and social impacts.
“While GPHC remains committed to providing the highest level of trauma care, many of these injuries are preventable,” the hospital said.
“Every decision made on the road has the potential to save a life,” it cautioned.
The hospital is therefore urging all road users to exercise greater responsibility, obey traffic laws, avoid speeding and use appropriate safety equipment, stressing that preventing an accident is far better than relying on emergency medical teams to save a life after one occurs.