The People’s National Congress Reform has expressed concern over the poor services available at the Linden Hospital Complex, following the recent accident in the mining town which claimed the lives of ten persons.
According to a statement from the party not all those who died in the accident would necessarily have died if the authorities had seen it fit to equip the hospital with proper resources to deal with such occurrences.
In the statement the party said it is aware that the Regional Democratic Council had raised at its statutory meeting in April this year and written in June to the Ministry of Health about the need for a resident orthopaedic surgeon.
The release stated that given the nature of the region with its many industrial concerns and lengthy roadways, the need for such a specialist was recognized and acted upon by the RDC. Regional Member of Parliament Vanessa Kissoon had also commented on the need to enhance the capabilities of the health sector in the mining town to deal with emergency situations such as the recent horrific accident.
In the statement the party also noted several deficiencies that face the health institution. These include the availability of blood, the absence of an intensive care unit, the lack of personnel and the lack of suction machines to clear nasal or respiratory blockages.
Meanwhile when contacted a senior official at the Linden Hospital Complex told Stabroek News that the institution is indeed suffering from some major deficiencies. These, the official said, include the lack of doctors and readily available blood supplies.
“We are not fully equipped to deal with such occurrences – (the horrific accident) to begin with we depend on BOSAI for ambulance service, and we only have six general medical practitioners along with three Chinese specialists,” the official said.
The official also pointed out that the complex is in dire need of a resident orthopaedic surgeon to operate permanently at the location. According to the official, taking into consideration the distance from Linden to Georgetown those in authority should take these needs into serious and immediate consideration.
And in response to the issue Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy said that the hospital is currently being upgraded.
The minister told Stabroek News that he has not seen the statement by the opposition party and as such cannot give a detailed response. He however noted that not all hospitals are built to deal with such occurrences on a daily basis but the basic requirements are always available at every hospital.
On Wednesday, October 10th ten people were killed after the minibus they were travelling in slammed into a parked timber truck.
