Director of Regional and Clinical Services Dr Kay Shako today denied that there is a shortage of drugs and human resources at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre on the East Bank.
“There is no critical drug shortage. Presently there are six (items): calamine lotion, unsterile gloves, sterile gloves, salbutamol inhaler, beclomethasone inhaler and insulin syringe which are soon to be replenished”, Dr Shako said in Ministry of Public Health release responding to a news article in the Guyana Times.
Shako who also rejected claims of a staff shortage at the Diagnostic Centre said “managers of the health facility are provided with the scope and supportive supervision needed to improve health service quality and efficiency, through innovation and the reinforcement of protocols for the equitable dispensation of governance and administration at the Centre.”
In addition, “our staff complement receives Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support training annually, especially staff in direct provision of emergency care and services. Ninety-five percent (95%) of nurses and doctors have been trained in BLS”, Shako said in the release, pointing to ongoing improvement programmes at the State-run institution.
She said there was also the reintroduction of X-Ray and Ultrasound services which has seen a significant in-patient load of 38 percent of staff seeking this service.
“The centre offers electrocardiogram (ECG) in both the Emergency and Outpatient departments, with an average of 20 ECGs are done daily in both departments with a monthly average of over 1000 patients receiving this service”, the Director added.
With the addition of bedside patient monitors in the emergency room, service delivery is further strengthened.
She said that with the establishment of the Paediatric Unit, the facility will offer specialised pediatric services with in-patient and out-patient facilities.
At the Diamond Diagnostic Centre there was also the addition of laboratory and dental services and these are currently being upgraded to provide additional services such as cardiac enzymes and serum electrolytes, the release said.
