Emergency admissions normal

Accra, Jan. 30. GNA - The closure of the Surgical Medical Emergency Unit of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) has not brought significant pressure on other hospitals of Accra.

Visits to some hospitals in the city by the GNA showed that the closure of the Unit had not brought the anticipated pressure on other hospitals.

Admission of emergency cases at the James Town Ussher Polyclinic has not seen any tremendous increase, the Hospital authorities said, attributing it to the referral of cases to the appropriate hospitals. The situation at the Korle Bu Polyclinic remains normal. Only 35 admission cases had been recorded as at the time of the visit. Authorities at the KBTH yesterday closed down the Surgical Medical Emergency Unit of the Hospital from January 29 to January 31 to allow for old cases to be treated as a result of congestion.

The Unit treats cases of trauma and others such as sickle cell crisis and stomach upsets. Such cases are treated and discharged within a period of 48 hours but refer severe cases to the Unit's wards. The Unit's 36-bed capacity could not contain the 69 cases on its hands at the time of the closure.