More training, new guidelines to ensure patients’ safety

Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony on Monday said that there will be more constant training for health workers to ensure the safety of patients accessing public health services.

This is being done to reduce mishaps that can lead to further patient complications and even death.

“One of the things we want to make sure is that when people come to the health system that patients feel safe, they are in a safe environment and whatever meds they are getting, this is also the right and appropriate for their health condition,” Dr Anthony said during his daily COVID update.

He added that “From time to time, however, there can be mistakes so for example if the prescription is not properly filled, if there is a substitute medicine that is given, if the interaction between various medicines is not taken into account, these can lead to complications for patients.”

World Patient Safety Day is observed on September 17 annually. Last Friday, the day was observed in Guyana and efforts were made to reinforce the need to have quality measures in place to ensure these mistakes do not occur.

“… to minimize them and this would mean we would have to constantly train our staff, make sure there is proper guidelines and if there any doubt for them to seek advice from more senior persons within the system,” Dr Anthony said on Monday.

In January 2019, three children died while receiving treatment for leukaemia at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Doctors who were involved in the misadministration of drugs were relieved of their duties, according to several well-placed sources.

The three children received the medication between January 3 and 4, 2019. On January 5, the doctors became aware that the medication was administered incorrectly. And, within hours of receiving the medication, the children started to experience strange symptoms and cried out for pain in their legs and arms.

On January 14, the first child, seven-year-old Curwayne Edwards, died. Then, four days later, it was three-year-old Roshini Seegobin. In another eight days, the third child, six-year-old Sharezer Mendonca, died.

An investigation by the GPHC was launched and the doctors who were involved in administering the treatment to the children were sent on administrative leave on January 29, 2019, pending the outcome of the investigation.

Subsequently, the GHPC’s investigation and an independent Ministry of Health investigation found that the incorrect administration of the drugs, coupled with “systemic challenges” contributed to the loss of the children’s lives.

The two junior doctors and the paediatric supervisor involved were dismissed.