Ultimate in patient care:

Coveted award for Ratnapura General Hospital

By Shirajiv SIRIMANE in Ratnapura

Ratnapura first came to the limelight for its precious stones and subsequently it became well-known for floods that ravaged the city.

Way back in 1869, a devastating flood was witnessed and the only high ground available was just one kilometre away from the town. The then British rulers requested flood victims to gather at this place and an emergency first aid camp was opened.

Since Ratnapura is the city of gems and also serves as the transit point to Adam's Peak, the Southern Province and hill country it was later decided to convert this temporary medical facility into a permanent hospital.

This was the birth of the National Hospital in Ratnapura. The foundation for the new general hospital at Ratnapura was laid in January 1952 after the old hospital known as the Ratnapura government hospital was severely damaged. After seven years of construction work on the design of an English hospital, the hospital opened its doors to the public on September 27, 1958. At that time it was one of the most comprehensive hospitals in southeast Asia with inward clinic and surgery facilities.

However, unlike earlier, now the demand for medical attention has increased the government too has stepped into add infrastructure and improve the hospital.

For the first time a well-equipped accident ward is to be built while it is also expected to be the first hospital outside Colombo to have 'paying wards.'

According to V.A.N. Premarathna, Hospital Secretary, and Secretary of the Ratnapura Hospital Development Committee, they are also hoping to introduce E channelling after consulting doctors. We also maintain a website and is only the second or third hospital to have its own website. We must thank Rama Agencies for sponsoring this website for five years.

He said the website provides information about the hospital, facilities available and provides records on line. We are so proud to mention the fact that our website assisted a child in the Netherlands to locate her parents.

This girl will be arriving at the end of the month to meet her parents after being separated for over 20 years.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa opened a new maternal and infant care unit at the Ratnapura General Hospital.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa wished baby Lakshika Dilshan who was the first infant patient to be admitted to the hospital, well. He said he hoped that with the necessary care given at the hospital, she would recover fast.

Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thera Foundation constructed the new facility.

With increasing traffic accidents and emergency cases coming from Embilipitiya, Badulla and Adam's Peak areas have now to be rushed to Colombo. Time is one of the key factors to save lives in an emergency. The hospital has now embarked on a project to construct a four story accident ward with modern medical amenities.

This would increase the room strength to over 1,200 and we would then have nearly seven operating theatres. The hospital is being served by 24 consultants and over 150 doctors. It also boasts of a staff strength of over 1,400.

He said that they were also thankful for JAICA for constructing a three storeyed building to house the four operating theatres.

Healthcare at the Ratnapura provincial general hospital is more than treating a patient's physical needs. It is the wellness and healing required the gentle understanding of the connection between a patient's mind, body and spirit. We combine the best technology, human resources excellent care with the healing powers of the human touch and treat the patient with respect and dignity, said, Dr. K.M.D. Darmapriya, Director, Ratnapura, Provincial General Hospital.

Though the hospital has six new ambulances it's disappointing to note that the two lorries that are there to transport essential medical supplies are in a state of disrepair and need urgent replacement.

The efforts of the hospital staff have not gone unnoticed and last month it was selected as the second best hospital after Colombo and won a national health excellence award. The hospital is surging ahead setting benchmarks for others to follow.