Parliament probes how lack of hospital beds 'caused' death of 70 year old man

Prince Anthony Opoku Acheampon died after several hospitals turned him away[/caption] The Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Oquaye has ordered a probe into circumstances that led to the death of a 70 year old man who was turned away by at least six public hospitals under the excuse of no bed. Prince Anthony Opoku Acheampon died in a family vehicle after hours of waiting at the LEKMA Hospital at Teshie in Accra on June 2. A joint committee, comprising Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, and the Health Committee, has been tasked to take up the issue. The committee is to report back to the house in two weeks, TV3’s Catherine Frimpomaa reports. Meanwhile, the Speaker of Parliament has expressed worry about what he said are too many  gaps in the country’s laws. He wants parliamentarians to take advantage of the Private  Members bill to make laws that criminalize such issues as negligence by health professionals as happened in the case of the 70 year old man. Dr. Bernard  Oko Boye, Member of Parliament for Ledzokuku, in whose jurisdiction the LEKMA Hospital where the 70 year old man died is located, raised what he called “avoidable situation” on the floor of parliament. “As a pracitising physician I find it depressing and unfortunate to read and hear of such things”, he said, noting they reduce the confidence the public have in the health system and health practitioners. According to him, many people have experienced “serious situations” in Ghanaian hospitals, in which many have lost their lives in this “avoidable situation” The Member of Parliament wants the “no bed syndrome”  to be considered more of a national security threat than a public health concern. The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has already triggered investigations into the matter, setting up a committee to investigate the case. Read more: Health Service investigates death of man denied care at 7 hospitals Source: 3news.com | Ghana]]>