We’ll resolve psychiatric hospital problems –President Mahama

President John Mahama has said he would ensure the disputes affecting the effective running of the Accra Psychiatric hospital are resolved.

Nurses at the hospital on Monday October 31 embarked on an indefinite strike citing “dangerous and unfavorable work environment”.

The hospital’s management have also started discharging patients on the instruction of the Mental Health Authority.

Addressing electorates via a radio interview on Sunrise FM at Koforidua in the Eastern Region Tuesday, President Mahama said his government will take immediate steps to resolve the impasse.

“We will take immediate steps to resolve the issues at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital…I will talk to the Health minister to understand what the issues are so they are resolved,” Mr. Mahama said

In a statement titled “Staying away from dangerous working environment”, the nurses said “following several fruitless attempts by the leadership of the nurses to get a lasting solution to the problems that has persisted for years, exposing patients and staff to high risk of infection, and which have become a major source of aggression towards staff and other patients, we have been compelled to put our safety above all topics.”

The nurse also mentioned “the shortage of the essential medications required for psychiatric management which has caused most patients to relapse and many of them demonstrating serious aggressive behaviours towards staff and other patients” as a factor.