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Plight surgery patients to worsen as Korle Bu shuts down three surgical clinics

By Myjoyonline.com
General News Plight surgery patients to worsen as Korle Bu shuts down three surgical clinics
FEB 8, 2016 LISTEN

The Korle Bu Teaching Hospital has announced the closure of three surgical clinics from February 6, 2016, a move that is set to worsen the plight of brain and spinal tumor patients seeking remedy.

Already the closure of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the surgical department two years ago for renovation has meant that surgical operations have had to be delayed to the detriment of patients.

The closure of the ICU compelled the hospital to rely on the recovery ward of the surgical clinics -- with only four beds -- to admit a tall list of surgery patients waiting their turns.

Joy News’ Kwetey Nartey reports in some instances, the condition of some patients developed complications before their scheduled date for surgical operations, while others have died.

Recently, a 21-year-old student of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) died while waiting for her appointment with doctors.

Abigail Owusu-Diko died at the Neurosurgery Department of the hospital while awaiting surgery for a neck tumor.

Her father, Kwaku Owusu-Diko told Kwetey Nartey doctors at Korle Bu did not operate on her daughter even when her condition worsened.

“They said there was nothing they can do until the date of appointment. So we made the appointment [January 14, 2016] and the appointment came and they never did the operation,” the bereaved father recounted.

Spokespersson for Specialist Doctors in Ghana, Dr Hadi Mohammed Abdallah, told Kwetey there was nothing the hospital could do as the number of surgery patients exceeded the hospital's intake capacity.

The hospital announced the closure of three surgical clinics – General Surgery, Neurosurgery and Urology – from February 6, until further notice.

According to the premier health care centre, the closure is to allow completion of ongoing works in some of the theatre and recovery wards in the Department of Surgery which are being rehabilitated and re-equipped to improve quality care.

A statement from the hospital indicated emergency cases would be attended to after prior arrangement are made in such cases, while non-emergency and elective surgery in Urology would be referred to other hospitals in the Metropolis.

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