Traffic lawlessness/vending around GPHC to be addressed- GPHC CEO (ag)

Written by Leroy Smith

Vehicles and vendors around the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) which hinders the free passage of emergency vehicles and patients are soon to be a thing of the past.

The unsightly double parking, vending, ‘touting’ and other activities which take place along New Market Street; the emergency entrance to the Hospital and Maternity compound will be addressed soon.

This is according to Brigadier George Lewis who is presently acting as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Country’s major health institution.

Speaking with the News Room today (Thursday, June 15, 2017), Lewis pointed out that the hospital’s management will not approach the matter in a high-handed manner, but rather invite all stakeholders involved and put the hospital’s position to them. An explanation will also be given on how these activities affect the hospital.

According to Lewis, he is aware of the issue of taxi drivers standing at the entrance of the Accident and Emergency Unit during the day. This he said prevents the free entry and exit of emergency vehicles as well as persons who are dropping off or picking up patients from the facility.

No driver is allowed to use their horn in the area of the Hospital, and this is seen as one of the contributing factors since they have to wait until the passengers notice their presence at the facility.

This is done even as a police outpost there is situated just to the entrance of the hospital coupled with the many security guards who are stationed at the facility.

There is also a case where minibuses are poorly parked to the head of New Garden Street while drivers and conductors are at the Hospital’s entrance looking for passengers.

On Thursday when the News Room visited the location, the concerns were vindicated. Vendors took up the pavement while taxis were parked in no parking zones and drop off areas.