<<Print>>

The National Cardiothoracic Centre of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital has come under pressure and was being over stretched following the strike by members of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA). The Centre, which is responsible for the investigation and management of cardiovascular diseases, is however attending to general cases as a result of the strike which has entered its second week. The facility which has room for just 30 beds, was full to capacity on Monday night when Graphic Online visited there . Speaking on condition of anonymity, two resident doctors told Graphic Online that although the strike is still ongoing, �we are here because of the passion we have for the job.� They said apart from the facility being overstretched, both nurses and doctors were also working beyond their capacity. �I came in at 7 am and it�s past 7 pm and I�m still here. So you can imagine. If there�s a critically ill patient, three�s no bed to put him or her on. The situation is worsening,� one said. They explained that the facility is designed to have six nurses during the day and three at night but the pressure was inconveniencing them as they have to attend to cases which are not heart related.. �The nurse and doctor ratio to patients has tripled and the doctors� strike has worsened it,� one said. The doctors therefore prayed that the negotiations could be fastened to help save the situation. �I think the government should do the right thing. We are bent on coming back to work. We are expecting that as a sensitive government, a quick action will be taken,� one appealed. Meanwhile, President John Mahama in an interview Wednesday described the strike as illegal and has called on the doctors to return to the negotiation table.