The Korle Bu Teaching Hospital’s management has refuted rumors that the institution’s ongoing power shortages were the reason for the cancellation of several crucial surgeries on Monday, April 29.
On Monday, reports surfaced in the media stating that patients in need of urgent medical treatments were sent back to their wards because of the power outages commonly referred to as “dumsor.”
However, the hospital’s management called such accusations false in a press release, adding that Monday’s reports were the result of a low-key incident that occurred at the facility and lasted for roughly 45 minutes.
The statement made clear that, “Limited space in the recovery ward, not a power outage, is the reason two cases at the Department of Surgery were returned to the ward at the end of the day.” All of the other operating rooms in the hospital performed their procedures on time.
“To exercise great caution in publishing stories that are not fully verified because they undermine public confidence and create unnecessary fear and discomfort among our patients,” the hospital also issued a public appeal.
Below is the full statement.
SUBJECT: SURGERIES HAVE NOT BEEN CANCELLED IN KORLE BU
RELEASE: IMMEDIATE
This is to correct a misleading report in sections of the media that claims that surgeries in Korle Bu were cancelled as a result of power outage on Monday, April 29, 2024 and the standby generator was not in use.
The facts therefore are as follows;
1. Work started on all elective cases in our theatres and the operations proceeded as scheduled.
2. However, we experienced low current for about 45 minutes. In the face of the low current that emanated from a problem at one of the substations of ECG, our functional standby generators came on stream and provided power for work to continue until the problem was resolved.
3. Two cases at the Department of Surgery were returned to the ward at the end of the day on account of limited space in the recovery ward and not because of power outage. The rest of the other theatres spread across the hospital all carried out their surgeries as scheduled.
4. As a leading national referral hospital, we wish to assure our patients and the general public that we prioritize their care and will continue to work to provide excellent services to address their health needs.
5. We wish to appeal to the media to exercise great circumspection in publishing stories that are not fully verified because they undermine public confidence and create unnecessary fear and discomfort among our patients.
Thank you.
