In response to the recent tragic deaths of a 70-year-old man and a 22-year-old pregnant woman who jumped from their wards, the Georgetown Public Hospital is taking immediate steps to enhance patient safety. Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony announced these measures as part of a commitment to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The incidents occurred earlier this year, in January and February. Following the first tragedy in January, Dr. Anthony instructed that all windows in the hospital be replaced with those adhering to fire safety guidelines while still ensuring they prevent patients from easily climbing through them. Unfortunately, the installation of the new windows was not completed before the second tragedy occurred, prompting the hospital to implement temporary barriers as an immediate response.
“We are very sorry for the loss of the patients, and we are trying to do our best to prevent anything from happening in the future,” Dr. Anthony stated. “By barring the windows now, and eventually replacing all of them, we believe it will solve that problem.”
In addition to the window modifications, repairs are underway in the psychiatric ward, where some patients, including those on suicide watch like the recent victims, have been relocated to a different section of the hospital under stricter monitoring protocols.
These measures reflect the hospital’s commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all patients, particularly those in vulnerable situations. Authorities are hopeful that these changes will significantly reduce the risk of future incidents.
