By Mildred Siabi-Mensah
Sekondi, Feb. 14, GNA ā Dr Pius Seth Mensah, the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Health Director says they will strengthen referral activities among facilities to advance coordinated and quality care.
He added that proper referral approach, was critical in quality case management to avoid compounding Health situations of patients or even resulting in emergencies.
Dr. Mensah therefore entreated all professionals particularly at the CHPS and Health centres to first āattend to patients, record their vitals, and even pass lines where so seriously needed before referring any patient to a major facility…
You also must call the department you are referring the patient to follow up with another call afterwards to find out whether client has arrived and receiving the needed care.ā
He continued that Health professionals must stop using notes books or prescription forms to write referrals but resort to the designed referral forms in such cases.
The Metropolitan Health Director told the health professionals at the 2024 annual performance review meeting held in Effia-Nkwanta in the Western Region.
The review was used to reflect on Health indicators, including Family planning, management of TB cases, Antenatal Care, Skilled delivery, among others.
Dr. Mensah said referral training would be conducted for facilities to ensure that the right approach was used to achieve the essence of referral.
He said the Network of Practice had been introduced to ensure access to comprehensive and accessible care by patients in their communities.
The Metropolitan Health Director called for proper synergies among facilities and practitioners to help achieve the universal health coverage by 2030.
The metro did well in many of the indicators but lagged in proper referral management which resulted in several still births in some facilities.
High still births within the metropolis was a result of delayed referral.
Dr. Mensah spoke about skilled delivery and family planning services as area that needed much attention.
He also entreated Health professionals to engage patients and involve them in finding solutions to their health needs…ā please treat patients in an ethical mannerā.
Awards were presented to staff who distinguished themselves in service and now on pension as well as facilities that did very well in TB case management, Family planning services, surveillance and expanded immunization programme, among others.
GNA