That, the hospital said, was to allow for the units mentioned to undergo fumigation as part of a yearly routine that would be undertaken to enable the hospital to maintain its quality service to patients.

The Head of Public Affairs of the Police Hospital, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mr Yaw Nketiah-Yeboah, explained to the Daily Graphic that the units had to be shut down because of the impact the chemicals used in the fumigation exercise might have on both patients and the public.

Reaction to chemicals

DSP Nketiah-Yeboah said the exercise would take place on Friday, November 1 and Saturday, November 2, but the units would remain closed until November 4 to allow the fumigant to completely evaporate before it was reopened to the public.

“Because people could react adversely to the chemicals in the fumigant or be allergic to it, we have to completely close down the OPD, the Emergency Unit and the Children’s or Paediatric Unit and also the Administration Unit, which are all on the same block,” DSP Nketiah-Yeboah said.

He said the fumigation exercise was intended to rid the hospital of mosquitoes and rodents and safeguard patients’ health.

“The hospital is situated close to a big drain and the rains have created a conducive environment for mosquitoes and rodents. We don’t want our patients to return home with ailments like malaria.

“It is a routine task we undertake each year and hopefully after the exercise from November 1-4, services at the affected units will resume fully,” he said.

Other health facilities

DSP Nketiah-Yeboah also said during the period of closure, all emergency medical cases would be referred to other facilities in the region.

“Police patrol teams which come across cases such as accidents and other emergencies have been instructed to send such cases to other facilities during the period,” he stated.

Rescheduling appointments

DSP Nketiah-Yeboah explained that in order not to be overwhelmed with cases, management had begun ‘downsizing’ the number of cases that the hospital was currently dealing with to ensure that by Thursday, all cases would have been taken care of.

“Cases to the affected units are being reviewed and doctors are making sure that patients on roll are treated on time in order to meet the closure date.

“Those who have been appointed to come for reviews during the period of the closure will have their dates rescheduled to the reopening date as is being done by various doctors after discussing it with the patients.

“Patients are being given information on what is happening through announcements and notices that we put up and so we are hoping that no patient will report on the days when the hospital is closed,” DSP Nketiah-Yeboah said.

“We apologise for any inconvenience this temporary closure will cause to our clients, but we assure all of them that we will resume on the scheduled date and render the same effective and efficient service,” he added.

Background

The Police Hospital has over the past four years undertaken routine fumigation of the various units at the facility.

The exercise last year took place from September 28 to October 1, and on that occasion the Surgical, Maternity, Mortuary and Pharmacy Units were temporarily closed to the public.

A similar exercise in 2017 took place from February 6 to 10, and it had the Radiology, Dental and Chemist Units and Quartermaster Stores, as well as the area of General Administration temporarily closed to the public.