There were 3,200 referrals to the Emergency Department of the Georgetown Public Hospital and 603 referrals to the Maternity Department from regional hospitals last year, Minster of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy said.

In a written response to a question submitted by AFC Parliamentarian Sheila Holder, the minister said the major reasons for referrals vary from region to region. “Some surgical cases were referred to the GPHC because the local hospital may not have the surgical capacity to handle the cases. Maternity high risk cases are referred to the GPHC. Complicated malaria cases are referred to the GPHC,” he said.

The regions which sent the most maternity cases to the GPHC last year were Regions One and Four with 115 and 147 women respectively being referred to the medical institution. Region Four also sent the most cases to the Accident and Emergency Unit last year with 1,092 persons being referred. Region Three and Five followed with 827 and 479 persons respectively being referred to the main hospital.

Region One sent 11 assault cases while Region Four sent 12 incomplete abortion cases to the GPHC last year.