Peer - Review improved outlook of health facilities

Ho, Feb. 12, GNA - Peer review has resulted in vast improvements in aesthetic outlook and service delivery of hospitals in the Volta Region since 2009.Mr Robert Adatsi, Deputy Director in charge of Clinical Care at the Volta Regional Health Directorate stated this when he presented a technical overview of the region’s health sector at the 2013 performance review conference of health managers in Ho.The theme for the conference was “focusing on the frontline staff: A key determinant for improving access and quality health care in the Volta Region.”Mr Adatsi said the performance in the physical environment and service delivery in hospitals rose from 65.5 per cent in 2009 to 87.5 per cent in 2013.“Sogakope District Hospital in South Tongu and the Worawora Hospital in the Biakoye District had posted distinguishing performances during the period,” Mr Adatsi said.He said the general improvements had resulted in staff willingness to accept transfers to hospitals which they otherwise would not like to go to.He said it was important that hospital staff took time to explain issues to patients rather than assumed postures that put patients off.Mr Adatsi explained that what patients were saying about staff attitudes were very crucial and would very much influence subsequent peer reviews.He said for example midwives should explain to pregnant women that when they “shout” at them to “push” during labour, they were doing so in order to save the lives of their babies.Mr Adatsi said statistics indicates that more deaths were recorded in the Volta Regional Hospital and in hospitals in the Southern-most part of the region.He explained that this was due to referrals from elsewhere to the Regional Hospital.He therefore asked Managers to furnish the Regional Health Directorate with up-to-date information on the deaths arising from referral cases, the state in which the referred patients were on arrival at the hospital, and suggestions that could help stem the situation.He outlined a number of initiatives and programmes to ensure constant improvement in health delivery in the region in 2014.Mr Joseph Afotey Agbo Volta Regional Minister said at the opening session of the Performance Review Conference that contracts had been signed to build two new district hospitals in the Volta Region this year, one of which would be at Adaklu-Waya in the Adaklu District.He charged District Chief Executives in the Region to share their bungalows with health professionals posted to their districts pending the provision of permanent accommodation for them.Mr Afotey Agbo asked the Chief Executives to show keen interest in issues of health in their respective districts and municipal areas.GNA Read Full Story