Korle Bu going through face lift (Graphic Business)

THE Korle Bu Teaching (KBTH) Hospital the nation’s premier hospital is going through various face lift to improve the quality of its service delivery.
The hospital through the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has acquired 13 lifts at the cost of GH¢2.4 million.
The amount is from a special fund set aside by the NHIA to use for the enhancement of services at accredited health facilities. The authority had previously assisted in the installation of a helicopter landing pad at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi.
Installation of the new lifts at the KBTH which has already begun, is to facilitate movement of paramedical and medcial staff as well as patients.
For about five years, lifts at the nation’s premier hospital had become obsolete and dysfunctional and as a result, patients had to be carried on stair cases to wards, particularly before they could be cared for.
But the hospital administrators explained that acquisition of the new lifts had delayed because of procurement procedure as well as the need to dismantle the old ones before the new lifts could be installed.
During a recent media tour of the hospital, four double system elevators weighing 1,600 kilograms were being installed at the Maternity, Surgical, Medical and Child Health Blocks. The Chief Executive of the hospital, Professor Nii Out Nartey took the media personnel round. He assured them that the installation of the first lifts at the Maternity Block would be completed by the end of January, 2011.
Each of the lifts has the capacity to lift 21 people. They are being installed by CFAO Ghana Limited, a trading firm and all expected to be ready for use by the end of March, 2011.
Another five single lift, weighting 1,000 kilograms with the capacity to take 13 people were being installed at the Chest, Eye, Ward A and G, and the Radiology Departments of the hospital.
At a media briefing which took place before the tour, Prof Nartey said work was progressing steadily and all the lifts would be installed and handed over to the hospital on schedule, barring any unforeseen contingencies. He also assured the public that the installations would not, in any way disrupt service provision to patients and clients adding that installation work was being handled in a calculated manner in order not to disrupt service provision to patients and clients.
The CEO took the opportunity to thank patients, staff and visitors to the hospital for their loyalty and co-operation in spite of the inconveniences associated with the replacement of the elevators.
After the completion of the installation work, the hospital board and management have the responsibility to institute maintenance programme to guarantee their longitivity.
On water supply, the management of the hospital had acquired a water tanker to ensure that water supply to the clinical areas was not disrupted.
Soon the hospital would embark on the expansion of its water reservoir to ensure that the clinics at the hospital function effectively.
In addition, the hospital has established information and complaints desks at the various out patients departments (OPD) to afford clients and patients the opportunity to address their grievances instead of going to the media.
The core duty of the committee would be to address grievances of patients and clients bordering on our services
In addition, the hospital is to form a Clinical Ethics and Professional Committee to address concerns and grievances of patients and clients.
The committee would comprise experienced medical and para-medical professionals, religious leaders and individuals from other interest groups. When put in place, such a committee would help the hospital to step up its drive to improve quality health care.