Ridge Hospital Assault Probe Exposes Security, Staffing and Equipment Gaps

The committee set up to investigate the alleged assault of a nurse at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge Hospital) has released its findings, revealing critical gaps in security, staffing, and emergency healthcare delivery.

Presenting the report on Wednesday, committee chairman Dr. Lawrence Ofori-Boadu confirmed that medical records showed no evidence of fracture or bone dislocation in the case of the nurse, Ms. Rejoice Tsotso Bortei, a rotational staff member. She reported her injuries a day after the incident and was treated with pain relief, placed on bed rest, and provided with psychological support.

Key Findings of the Committee

1. Security

• Security at the emergency unit was described as grossly inadequate.

• Only one private security officer was deployed per 12-hour shift, despite heavy human traffic.

• The police post on the hospital premises was too far from the emergency unit, leading to delays and reliance on the Adenta Police Command.

2. Staffing

• In August, the emergency unit operated with just one doctor per shift and one specialist per day.

• Only seven doctors and two specialists were permanently assigned to the unit.

• Of the 88 nurses posted to the department, only 54 were at post, while 34 had exited for various reasons.

3. Equipment

• Diagnostic machines, including X-ray, CT scan, and MRI, were out of service.

• The equipment breakdown caused delays in care and forced referrals to external facilities.

Committee Recommendations

The investigative team recommended urgent reforms to strengthen Ridge Hospital’s emergency services:

• Increase Security: Deploy more security personnel and ensure regular police presence, especially at night and weekends.

• Improve Monitoring: Expand CCTV coverage across patient care areas.

• Boost Staffing: Recruit more doctors, nurses, and client service officers to meet rising emergency demands.

• Upgrade Facilities: Repair and retool faulty diagnostic equipment to prevent delays.

• Ease Pressure: Establish more secondary-level hospitals in the region to reduce the overwhelming burden on Ridge Hospital.

• Public Education: Intensify awareness on the role and limits of emergency services to minimize confrontations between staff and patients’ families.

Dr. Ofori-Boadu stressed that addressing these systemic challenges is vital for preventing future incidents, improving patient care, and maintaining public trust in Ghana’s emergency healthcare delivery.