Hospital’s new rules

 PORT Moresby General Hospital will have some major changes in its emergency department by July.

A statement from the hospital said the wing would have more equipment such as more sophisticated medical devices, computerised systems and electronically-controlled access points.

There will no longer be the “first-come first-serve” basis.

By the first week of July, the following rules will be applied in the emergency department:

• A fee of K50 for those injured in drug-related fights will be imposed because much of the time such cases are brought upon oneself. Domestic violence is an exception for women only;
• Patients must have referral letters from a primary health facility or consultation from a doctor or health worker;
• All emergency cases may be seen without referrals;
• No guardians will be allowed inside unless approved by the attending physician. The previous policy of one patient-one guardian will no longer stand;
• Staff will not be allowed to give preference to friends and relatives;
• Any patient or guardian caught stealing will be removed immediately; and
• All patients who are able must take care of their own primary health care such as basic hygiene, if they expect advanced secondary and tertiary health care from us.

The management of the emergency wing headed by Dr Sam Yockopua has urged the public to observe these guidelines.

“The emergency wing will aim to provide services known as secondary and tertiary health care using this new technology backed up by sufficient manpower to provide vital care to patients.

“There is new screening and criteria that patients must meet now as well because of the huge workload and the large number of cases that takes its toll on limited time and resources,” the statement said. 

New systems have been adopted to make sure that staff do not burn out on seeing just any case, and stable cases will be made to wait while the more critical ones are treated first.

There will be the internationally accepted triage system which ensures that the most seriously ill patient is served first.