The New Amsterdam Hospital’s neonatal unit will be closed for approximately one week while the Ministry of Public Health attempts to address several deficiencies within the unit.
This is according to Minister of Public Health Dr George Norton, who told Stabroek News on Monday that he was disgusted with what he saw during a recent visit.
Norton explained that the most recent case of infant mortality originating from the unit caused him serious concern and when he was unable to get answers from the hospital or the Regional Health Officer, he chose to visit the hospital.
“A particular case recently really disturbed me. An infant who was being treated at New Amsterdam was transferred to Georgetown and he died in transit. He died of bleeding.
That’s what the post-mortem showed that he died of—bleeding,” Norton said, while adding that someone must be held accountable for the state of affairs.
“I rushed up there; I had to go because I was trying to call the region and hospital but no one answered. The minister shouldn’t have to go up there to see a broken air conditioner,” he said.
The minister explained that the decision to close the unit came after he observed that massive repairs were necessary as well as the replacement and provision of specialised equipment.
“Repairs need to be done. In some areas, the ceiling is falling, there is only one sink, one wall is made of cloth and we need to replace that with PVC material, there is a need for a functioning air conditioner and… specialised medical equipment,” Norton said, while noting that phototherapy lamps, laryngoscope and scales are among the things that are needed. “There are six incubators but one not working because of some problems with the heating of water and it is rusting. There are monitors none of which are working,” he added.
Other specialised equipment needed include a ventilator and bilimeter. The ventilator is expected to assist newborns who are in respiratory distress, while the bilimeter is expected to help manage neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia, where the newborn’s liver is not able to properly process bilirubin, thereby causing jaundice.
According to the minister, the ministry is also hoping to source a continuous positive airway pressure ventilators, which help premature babies to breathe.
Norton spoke of being incensed at learning that the unit had to borrow an umbilical catheter from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.
Asked about a timeline for the acquisition of the specialised equipment and the reopening of the unit, Norton explained that several institutions have already come forward to donate the required pieces so the ministry is hope to be able to reopen the unit in a week.
He noted that the greatest delay would come from ensuring that the space is sterile.
“We will have to swab then allow for a culture and sensitivity test, clean and swab again.
This we are going to have to contract out to Eureka Labs,” he added.
