The Accident and Emergency Centre at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital is facing mounting pressure, with doctors warning that the situation at the facility is becoming increasingly unsafe for both patients and medical staff.
Medical practitioners working at the centre say the unit, which serves as the country’s main referral emergency facility, is operating far beyond its intended capacity. According to them, the growing number of critically ill and injured patients arriving daily has stretched resources, staff and available space to their limits.
Doctors indicate that overcrowding in the emergency ward has made it difficult to provide timely care, raising concerns about patient safety and the quality of treatment. They also warn that the conditions could expose the hospital and individual healthcare workers to potential legal action if patients suffer complications due to delays or inadequate space.
Some clinicians say patients are sometimes treated in corridors or temporary spaces because of the shortage of beds, while essential equipment and supplies are not always sufficient to meet demand. They note that the centre receives referrals from hospitals across Ghana, making the strain even more intense.
Healthcare workers further argue that the current situation has increased stress levels among staff, who must handle emergencies under challenging circumstances. They caution that without urgent intervention, the risks could escalate, affecting both clinical outcomes and the morale of frontline medical personnel.
Doctors are therefore calling on government authorities and hospital management to prioritise improvements at the emergency centre, including expanding infrastructure, increasing staffing levels and ensuring adequate medical supplies.
They also stress the importance of long-term planning to strengthen emergency healthcare services nationwide, so that major referral facilities such as Korle-Bu are not overwhelmed by cases that could be handled at other levels of the health system.
