Members of the medical staff at the Matthews Ridge Hospital are being accused of turning up late for work and leaving persons who are in need of medical care unattended.
Regional Vice Chairman Fermin Singh told Stabroek News that the region did receive a complaint about the “lateness of some staff.” He said that there is no issue if a staff member is about 15 minutes late but it must not be a regular occurrence. He said lateness may occur if the staff member is living some distance away; if the road is in a bad condition; if there are transportation woes; or if it is raining.
He stressed though that he was not defending the hospital staff. “We have indicated that they should try to be at their desks on time,” he said.
Several residents complained to this newspaper yesterday that when they visit the health institution during morning hours, particularly for scheduled clinics, there is no one there to look at them.
Residents said there is no issue of staff shortage, so that cannot be used as an excuse for the lateness. It was pointed out too that the staff members who work the night shift should not leave their posts until they are relieved so as to ensure there is a free flow of service at the institution.
Former APNU MP Richard Allen told Stabroek News that several residents have also contacted him, complaining of the long hours they have to wait for medical attention. He said, “Based on what I know [some of them] they don’t reach in for their shift until after 9.” The shift starts at 7 am.
He said yesterday morning residents called him to complain about the situation because “because they had clinic and there was no staff, no nurse at the hospital neither the doctor.”
According to Allen, a resident who called him said he saw nurses in the compound of the nearby nurses’ hostel. He claimed the nurses were rude to the resident and told him that if he could not wait then he should leave.
“The resident was highly annoyed about this. They [the residents] are appealing to me to ensure that they get proper attendance at the hospital. This is an ongoing something. They have also complained about how rude the doctor was,” he added.
Allen added that the nursing staff should have no issue of reaching late as they live a stone’s throw away from the hospital. “All medical staff live at the hostel so there should be no issue.” He said the only staff members who should be late are the maid and the cook as they are residents of the area and live away from the hospital.
