PNCR executive Winston Murray was up to 9 pm listed as critical with a poor prognosis and remains on respiratory life support at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC).
Murray, 69, is in an unconscious state after falling ill on the East Bank last evening.
Murray’s younger son, Mark told Stabroek News tonight that his father looked better than he did last night. “..I came to the hospital last night and he was not looking too good but he looked better today and looked more stable”, the son said. He added that he planned to visit the spot where his father collapsed last evening to understand what happened. Asked whether the family might consider flying Murray out of the country, Mark said the advice of the doctors would be relied on.
Murray was referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation at about 11:20 last night.
He was seen by Consultant Physicians in Internal Medicine and Neurosurgery and the results of a CT scan revealed severe haemorrhage to his brain. Sources say it appears there could have been an aneurysm which led to Murray’s severe bleeding.
Sources say doctors at the GPHC were prepared for a surgical procedure to relieve his state of unconsciousness but there were complications which prevented them from doing so. Murray is a diabetic and following the fall he also had an irregular heartbeat. His condition has been listed as very serious, hospital sources said at 10 am today. He is in the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital.
Hospital sources today said that Guyanese neurosurgeon Dr Ivor Crandon has been contacted in Jamaica and he was to fly here to treat Murray.
At a press conference today, PNCR Leader Robert Corbin said “We’re trying to ensure he gets the best possible medical treatment available at this time. The various medical avenues have been explored and we have been in touch with a neurosurgeon specialist who’s not in Guyana but who’s had connection with the Georgetown Hospital and in fact he has been sort of guiding the process since early last evening. So he’s in constant touch with the surgeons at the Georgetown Hospital and they’ve been sharing information, the scans and doing evaluations on a very regular basis as to what could b done to offer him a speedy recovery.
“The problem is, they have told us that there are a number of complications for example the hospital brought out all the doctors last night, the anesthesiologist and all of them and they had hoped that they could have had some surgical intervention to relieve some bleeding in the brain but unfortunately because of some other complications, you know he’s a diabetic and so on and his pressure is high, they could not go further. But to answer your question directly yes we are seeking the best medical facility and personnel available and in fact we’re trying to get that specialist in here as quickly as possible because it’s difficult to move him (Murray) in the present condition he is in.
“Immediately after he was hospitalised the government showed an interest in the matter; both the prime minister and the president called me and indicated that the government was prepared to make whatever facilities that were available to ensure that he was brought to a speedy recovery. And I’ve been in contact with (Minister of Health) Dr. (Leslie) Ramsammy and the hospital officials who were all very cooperative last evening and brought out the staff and necessary personnel and to ensure that he had the best facilities at the Georgetown Hospital. To that extent yes, we have been in touch with them and right now we will be making further requests if the need arises to ensure that we can do what is in our power to ensure he gets the best treatment. “
An associate told Stabroek News that after his collapse last evening, Murray requested to be taken to the Balwant Singh hospital, where he was evaluated by doctors. At the time this newspaper spoke with his associate, Murray had fallen unconscious. He was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where party officials including leader, Robert Corbin gathered.
Murray had hours earlier participated in the sitting of the National Assembly and was en route to his home when he collapsed after stopping to make a purchase on the East Bank.
Recently, Murray, an economist and a practising attorney, has been part of national outreaches as part of his bid to be the PNCR’s candidate. His campaign has seen him and supporters aggressively reaching out to the party membership across the country in an effort to concretise support for his bid. So far, they have met with members of PNCR groups over the last year in regions 3,4,6,9 and 10.
Last year, Murray, who was Deputy Prime Minister under Desmond Hoyte and had previously served as the Chairman of the PNCR, ran an unsuccessful campaign to be the party leader.
