Total overhaul proposed for Diamond Hospital

Minister within the Ministry of Public Health Dr. Karen Cummings has proposed a total overhaul of the Diamond Regional Hospital. This comes as the minister toured the facility and held discussions with the staff at the hospital.
After listening to complaints from senior staff members, Dr. Cummings concluded that the only possible solution is that of a total overhaul of the facility, since it serves a large catchment area and currently its capacity is limited “If we are going to fix it, let’s fix it once and for all”, Dr. Cummings suggested.
At this meeting, which included Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Leslie Cadogan, several officials from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and staff of the Diamond Hospital, the need to improve several areas was raised; these include the need for more wards, an extension to the maternity unit, and relocating the doctors’ living quarters.
Another major issue affecting the facility is the shortage of auxiliary staff, especially porters and receptionists. The Hospital has also been functioning without any form of direct leadership, since there has been no Chief Executive Officer (CEO) present therefore some months. Minister Cumming pointed out that this is very unfortunate and the Ministry will commence immediate work to rectify this issue.
The minister also did a brief walk-through of the facility, inspecting the operations and conditions of the employees.
Upon a request, the Minster also met with the other staff and listened to several issues and complaints similar to those raised by the senior staff. The minister used the opportunity to inform the staff of the discussions that had taken place with the senior staff. In addition, she strongly emphasised the need for staff recognition and rewards.
The minister also paid a brief visit to the Materials Management Unit (MMU), where she had a brief tour of the facility and met with the staff. Both visits were made on July 10.
The Diamond Regional Hospital, on the East Bank of Demerara, was built at a cost of $120 million dollars and commissioned on October 12, 2007. (Guyana GIS)