Unresolved conflicts among obstetric care providers at Korle-Bu are contributing to maternal and neonatal deaths, according to Mrs Racheal Hesse Matey, CEO of MamaCare by Racheal. Speaking on 10 June at the Annual Health Conference on Maternal and Neonatal Mortality held at the Korle-Bu Nursing and Midwifery Training College, she linked internal disagreements among health staff to lapses in patient care.
“When there is conflict among the internal people and it is not resolved, the protocols that are supposed to guide us are not followed,” Mrs Hesse Matey said. She described situations where caregivers on the same shift fail to reach agreement, leading to misdiagnosis, inappropriate interventions, and poor coordination. “This person is saying this, that person is saying that, and we are not coming to one agreement,” she added.
Mrs Hesse Matey warned that such discord has a direct impact on the quality of care. “If staff are not on good terms, patient care suffers,” she said, urging prompt resolution of interpersonal conflicts. She called on health facilities and training institutions to prioritise teamwork, communication, and conflict resolution to reduce preventable maternal deaths.
Her comments came amid ongoing concerns about Ghana’s maternal and neonatal mortality rates. The Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana’s largest referral centre, records hundreds of deliveries monthly. The hospital’s maternity unit often grapples with high patient volumes and complex cases, increasing the need for effective teamwork.
Beyond interpersonal issues, Mrs Hesse Matey underscored the importance of continuous professional development among midwives. “Before they come to the hospital, [patients] know the condition they are going through. Right from pregnancy, the woman is already reading about what is happening from week to week, month to month,” she said. “She is well informed. She is even reading about what is going to happen in labour.”
She warned that midwives lacking adequate knowledge risk failing to meet rising patient expectations. “If you don’t have the knowledge to care for your patients, then we are talking about maternal mortality,” Mrs Hesse Matey said.
She also stressed the need for equitable healthcare delivery. Every patient deserves quality care regardless of social background, financial status, or appearance, she insisted.
The CEO cautioned trainees against distractions during duty, specifically the overuse of mobile phones and social media. “Every moment spent with a patient counts,” she said, warning that divided attention undermines care quality.
Korle-Bu has faced challenges with staff shortages and resource constraints, which complicate efforts to improve maternal health outcomes. Mrs Hesse Matey’s remarks add a human dimension to these issues, pointing to how workplace dynamics affect clinical results.
The conference on 10 June gathered health professionals and policymakers to discuss strategies to reduce deaths during pregnancy and childbirth. Mrs Hesse Matey’s focus on internal conflict and professional competence reflects concerns that improving health outcomes requires more than equipment and protocols. It demands collaboration and professionalism among those delivering care.
Her call for training institutions to emphasise teamwork and conflict resolution comes as midwifery education evolves to meet new challenges. Ghana’s patients increasingly access health information independently, raising expectations for skilled care.
Maternal and neonatal mortality remain persistent issues in Ghana despite government and NGO interventions. Mrs Hesse Matey’s warning about unresolved conflicts adds a layer to ongoing debates about how to improve hospital environments and patient outcomes.
Korle-Bu’s maternity unit continues to balance high demand with efforts to provide quality care. Mrs Hesse Matey’s comments suggest that addressing staff relationships may be as urgent as addressing clinical protocols or infrastructure.
According to Joy Online.
