Georgetown Hospital doubts letter writer's claims/TITLE> <script language="JavaScript" SRC="gyj11.js"></script> <script language="JavaScript" SRC="gyj12.js"></script> <script language="JavaScript" SRC="gyj13.js"></script> <script language="JavaScript" SRC="../gynews.js"></SCRIPT> </HEAD> <script language="JavaScript">  </script> Georgetown Hospital doubts letter writer's claims <br> Says maternity ward among best examples of care </H3> </CENTER> <br> <font face="arial" size="2"> <FONT COLOR="yellow" SIZE="+1"><a href="http://www.stabroeknews.com">Stabroek News</a></FONT><br> April 5, 2002<br> <hr> <table> <tr> <td><b><i>Related Links:</i></b></td> <td align = "right"><a href="../gyhealth_.htm"><b>Articles on health</b></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="../gyltwrite.html"><b>Letters Menu</b></a></td> <td align="right"><a href="../gyextend.htm"><b>Archival Menu</b></a></td> </tr> </table> <hr> <P> <B> The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) says that its Maternity Section is one of the areas where the best examples of patient care exist in Guyana. <br><br> This statement was made in response to the criticism of the Maternity Section of the GPHC contained in the letter "<a href="gyltns20402.htm">Pregnant mothers deserve better treatment</a>" [<FONT COLOR="lime"> please note: link provided by LOSP web site </FONT>] by C. Bovell in the Tuesday edition of Stabroek News. <br><br> According to a release from the GPHC, it is true to say that the institution does not have a functioning theatre in the maternity ward at the moment but management is addressing the matter with the likelihood of having it re-equipped soon. <br><br> And while agreeing that it would be the best option to have the theatre in the Maternity Section re-equipped and functioning, this is conditioned on a strategic plan that has priority phases for development of the hospital, the release said. <br><br> Management, the release noted, is also concerned that the babies have to be taken over by a nurse from (the) theatre to the Maternity Ward, but "this is the best option at this time." The release added that although such a situation is not ideally what the institution desires, precautionary measures are in place for transporting the newborns. <br><br> However, it is quite unfortunate, the release added, that a patient could have been made to endure the experience described by the author, "though the story seems exaggerative and does not completely fit reality." <br><br> "An investigation done refutes this claim", the release said. <br><br> The GPHC added that it has functional procedures for every area of its operation and there is no procedure that knowingly puts its patients under undue pressure, particularly an in-patient who is in need of a C-section. <br><br> Pregnant women, like all other patients, are wheeled from one part of the hospital to another by porter assistants, accompanied by nursing staff when necessary, the release said. <br><br> "There are exceptionally few cases when patients walk from one to another part of the hospital and these occasions arise in circumstances where there is no danger in doing so," the GPHC assured. <br><br> According to the release, the author's account "crossed imaginary boundaries" when it stated that pregnant women for C-section are forced to walk to the theatre. "Quite unbelievable," the GPHC remarked. <br><br> Moreover, the release noted, there should be no issue about the distance to move a patient from one to another part of the hospital simply because the institution is a large complex and a valid complaint can exist only if one can show how this movement affects the quality of care given to a patient. </b> </FONT> <script language="JavaScript">  </script> <script language="JavaScript">  </script> <SCRIPT src="lospfoot.js"></SCRIPT><P> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> </blockquote> </BODY> </HTML>