This weekend the compound of St Joseph Mercy Hospital is expected to be a hive of activity as a massive clean-up exercise of the burnt section of the institution will be conducted by staff.

According to Human Resources Director Georgeina Mentore the institution was given permission to begin clearing the rubble and it is hoped that they might be able to salvage materials from the debris. While the clean-up exercise had commenced during the week, it is expected to be heightened as the hospital seeks to accelerate its return to normal operation.

Additionally, from Monday, all out-patient services which were temporarily located at the Guyana Red Cross Society building will revert to the hospital.  The hospital’s in-house long serving practitioners, Drs Fredericks and Searwar are expected to have their offices in the hospital’s compound completed within the week and will once again provide services to their patients.

As it relates to records, Mentore added that while sifting through the rubble, some more records were recovered by nurses.

Meanwhile, the patients who are being housed at the Davis Memorial Hospital will remain there and not be moved this weekend as was anticipated.  However, Mentore said they were all doing well.

When it was examined, the institution’s operating theatre was found to have minor damage and work is being undertaken to have it fully operational within two weeks.
Mentore added that spirits are high among the nurses who indicated that “they can’t wait to get back home”.

While donations have been forthcoming the institution is still making an appeal for items such as mops, cleaning supplies, bed linens, typewriters/computers, stethoscopes, among others.

The administration is yet to make definitive decisions on the rebuilding process however it is expected that the board may meet within the week to decide on its future plans.

On Monday last the hospital’s main administrative building was gutted by a fire of unknown origin.