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The Police Hospital in Accra has made a passionate appeal to the private sector and the general public to assist it with funds to refurbish an old nearby building to cater for the increasing number of patients.

The building, which was previously occupied by the Forestry Commission, was released to the Police Hospital, but it needs renovation.

Corporal Faustina Nunukpeku, the acting Public Relations Officer of the hospital, said the renovation became necessary because they do not want to send patients away.

According to her, the hospital is experiencing shortage of items such as beds, wheelchairs, oxygen, concentrators and stretchers.
She, therefore, appealed to members of the public and corporate organisations to come to their aid to procure the items to enable them continue to save lives.

A visit by The Finder to the hospital revealed a sorry state of affairs.

Patients seeking medical attention at hospital have no choice but to sleep on the floors and corridors while they receive medical care.

This is due to congestions at the hospital following the strike action by doctors in public hospitals, which has eventually led to the overstretching of facilities at the hospital.

On the corridor of the maternity ward, a pregnant woman who was receiving blood transfusion was sitting in a plastic chair with the blood pack nailed to a wooden structure, as opposed to the standard procedure of the patient lying on a bed.

Other pregnant women had no choice but to sleep on student mattresses placed on the floor of the corridors.

Due to the long queues, out-patients had to wait for long hours to have the opportunity to see doctors.

Wards at the hospital are full and patients have been sent to tents that have been erected by the hospital.

The Police Hospital has so far made provision for about 40 beds in five tents as part of measures to contain the increasing number of patients trooping to the facility as a result of the strike action.

Consequently, the hospital has appealed for support from the general public and corporate organisations.

At the 37 Military Hospital, Mr Christina Adjo Atepor, the Public Relations Officer, mentioned that though the increased the figures are not significant, measures have been put in place.

She noted that the hospital requested and has received from the Ministry of Health 50 yet-to-be-posted nurses to help ease the pressure on the facility.

She expressed gratitude to the National Disaster and Management Organisation (NADMO) for donating mattresses when the hospital appealed for such assistance.

Statistics from the 37 Military Hospital indicate that there has been a slight increase of patients’ registration and attendance since the strike began.

Number in attendance the week before the strike action increased from 4,254 to 4,449 while admission has also increased from 455 to 610.