The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has announced  plans to effect a major reshuffle at the country’s main referral hospital- the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH).  The move is meant to provide quality, affordable and accessible health care services to the general public as well as to put all necessary measures to restore standards as expected. This development is contained in a press release issued yesterday by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare after a press briefing held at its conference hall in Banjul.

Below is the full text of the release
The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has registered with serious attention the concerns raised over the behaviour of staff in handling patients at Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH).  Consequently it has taken vigilant and appropriate measures to address this unfortunate situation to bring back quality health services to the public.  

Some of the most important measures taken up to date include: A complete overhaul of the entire RVTH management structure which includes the redeployment and reshuffling of following units- Accident & Emergency, Polyclinic, Intensive Care, Obstetrics and Gynaecology including the Maternity Wing, Internal Medicine, Surgery including the operating theatres, Wing, Internal Medicine, Laboratory, Pharmacy, Radiology and facilities including support services. The current RVTH Board will be reconstituted. Additionally, extra staff, especially hardworking nurses found around the regions have ben redeployed to the RVTH to strengthen service delivery.

The MOHSW are also in the process of setting up complaint boxes for the general public to be located at RVTH and the Ministry; and regular monitoring and supervisory visits will be conducted at the RVTH by the staff of the Ministry with immediate effect. The MOSHW reaffirms its commitment to provide quality, affordable and accessible health care services to the general public.  RVTH remains our top referral hospital and our priority is to ensure quality health care is not compromised at any health facility.  We therefore reassure the general public that MOHSW will put all necessary measures to restore standards as expected. The MOHSW is hereby appealing to the general public to make use of the complaint box and also render to their full support during this change over period.