Korle Bu establishes complaints desks

THE Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) has established information and complaints desks at the various out patients departments (OPDs) to afford clients and patients the opportunity to seek redress for their grievances instead of going to the media.
In addition, the hospital is to form a Clinical Ethics and Professional Committee to address concerns and grievances of patients and clients.
At a media briefing in Accra last Friday, the Chief Administrator of the hospital, Professor Nii Otu, said the committee would comprise experienced medical and para-medical professionals, religious leaders and individuals from other interest groups.
He said such a committee would help the hospital to step up its drive to improve quality health care, adding that “the core duty of the committee would be to address grievances of patients and clients bordering on our services.”
Briefing media practitioners on the progress made on the installation of new lifts and other developments at the hospital, he said the new lifts had been procured and installation work had begun.
Prof. Nartey said the acquisition of the lifts needed for some of the blocks within the hospital had delayed because of the new procurement procedures as well as the need to dismantle the old ones before the new ones could be installed.
He said the lifts were procured with funds from the government through the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) at the cost of GH¢2.4 million.
He pointed out that work was going on steadily and all the 13 lifts would be installed and handed over to the hospital by the end of March 2011, barring any unforeseen contingencies.
He further stated that work on the installation of the lift at the Maternity Block had progressed, with assurance from the contractor that it would be completely fixed before the end of January next year. After that, work will also begin at the Child Health Department, Department of Medicine, Allied Surgery Sub-BMC and the Radiology blocks.
Prof. Nartey said the installation work was being handled in a calculated manner in order not to disrupt service provision to patients and clients and expressed gratitude to patients, staff and visitors to the hospital for their patience in spite of the inconveniences associated with the replacement of the lifts.
Reacting to a question as to why the NHIA assisted the KBTH in the purchase of the lifts even though the authority owed the hospital huge sums of money in claims, Mr George Oppong, a Public Relations Officer at the Corporate Affairs Division of the NHIA, told the Daily Graphic that the authority had separate funds for different purposes.
He pointed out that the authority had, as part of its mandate, the responsibility to enhance services at the accredited health facilities, adding that it had previously assisted in the installation of a helicopter landing pad at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi.