– patient should have been isolated on admission
The National Psychiatric Hospital (NPH) nurse who admitted the patient who later attacked several inmates resulting in the death of one, breached standard operating procedures Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy said yesterday.
Harry Ramanand was among five patients who were attacked but he succumbed two days later at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) where he had to be transferred for treatment.
At a press conference yesterday, in response to queries, Ramsammy explained that only a doctor could assign a patient to a ward and noted that on the night the patient was admitted no doctor was present.
He said standing operating procedure dictates that if a psychiatric patient arrives after hours, he or she must be assigned to a holding area which is isolated, until s/he is seen by a doctor who will decide whether the patient would be held for long-term treatment.
According to him, the man had been a patient but was able to escape somehow. He was returned by relatives, but the health worker who admitted him did not put the patient in the isolated area.
Asked whether that worker will face disciplinary action for the breach, Ramsammy said it has been agreed that an investigative committee will do its work and would make the necessary recommendations.
He told reporters too that the medical file of the patient has since been handed over to the police for them to decide what action they would take.
Meanwhile Ramsammy conceded that there was a staff shortage at NPH but said even if some staff members were shifted to that area, a shortage would still exist.
The assailant flew into a rage after he was not allowed to go home when he requested. He injured fellow patients, Ramanand, 67, of Cumberland, Canje; Errol Leow, 37, of Rose Hall, Corentyne; Gregory Madassa, 40, of Georgetown; Roopnarine Laljit, 28, of Tain, Corentyne and Rickford Charles, of an interior location.
Reports are that the 29-year-old patient of Fyrish, Corentyne had broken out of the institution on Thursday and was taken back by his relatives about an hour before the incident occurred because they found it difficult to control his aggressive behaviour. But he did not like that one bit.
Sources said that after the man’s relatives left, he kept telling the nurse that he wanted to go but the nurse responded that he could not because he was “sick and it was best for him to stay and take his treatment”.
Around 11.30 pm on Saturday, the angry patient headed to the dining hall and kicked the door, breaking it. He then ripped out a piece of wood that had a few nails exposed and ran to a patient who was sleeping and started battering him.
He later severely beat the other four.
Meanwhile, the “sit-in” staged by nurses following the incident ended after nurses were promised increased security.
Minister within the Ministry of Health Dr Bheri Ramsarran promised improved lighting of the NPH compound; additional security personnel especially at nights; and arrangements for physical renovations to strengthen security of the nurses’ stations.
Ramsarran met the hospital’s administration at Fort Canje on Wednesday night to discuss several concerns, which according to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release, “have been immediately addressed”. The meeting has resulted “in the full normalization” at NPH.
The Ministry of Health, GINA further said, will continue working with the union and hospital staff to address their concerns and improve working conditions.
