Region Six patients to enjoy better hospital experience

Dr Mahadeo speaks at the launch

The first batch of Patients Advocate training was launched on Friday in Region Six, part of an initiative to improve patient experience in hospitals by providing guidance, support, and comfort throughout the healthcare journey.

A total of twelve Patients Advocates will be stationed at New Amsterdam, Port Mourant, and Number 75 Hospitals, while two will be placed at Mibicuri Hospital, officials said.

The launch brought together government officials, students, and community representatives, with participants emphasising the programme’s role in reducing confusion, easing patient anxiety, and improving hospital efficiency.

“This is a patients experience training. One of the challenges we find is that when patients visit a hospital, they have to go meet the medical staff, they go to the wrong place and they get confused, quite a lot of time is taken up. What we are trying to do now is to meet the patients, ask them about their issues and work with them to get them through the system in a more efficient manner,” said Dr Zulfikar Bux, Emergency Medicine Specialist at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Director General of the Ministry of Health, Dr Vishwa Mahadeo, told trainees that the government has invested tens of billions of dollars in the health sector to improve infrastructure, provide vehicles for greater accessibility, ensure adequate drug and medical supplies, and upgrade facilities across the country.

“All the health facilities across the country has been upgraded and better patients accommodation is also being provided. All this is in keeping with President Irfaan Ali’s vision of providing world-class Health care to every Guyanese,” he said.

He added, “So while we are doing all the things from a government stand point, the human factor is also important. You are going to be first contact, you are going to be the face of the Government of Guyana, the President of Guyana and the Ministry of Health. You are going to be the first and maybe the last person the patient sees while at the hospital. I will tell you that the patient might not remember the doctor or nurse when the go home but they will remember you so do your job well.”

Many of the trainees selected were part-time workers. According to Dr Mahadeo, the programme provides a pathway for participants to elevate and expand their skills within the workforce and aligns with President Irfaan Ali’s vision of improving the lives of all Guyanese.

Trainees were also encouraged to take advantage of the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) initiative to enhance their education and skill sets through the available online programmes.

Following the launch, Dr Mahadeo met with and briefed another group from Region Five, who will commence Patients Advocate training next week, and held discussions with the Region Five Regional Administration on health-related issues and other matters of concern.