In The Borda There Is a Nursery Next To a Psychopathic and HIV Carriers Ward
<p>The Audit of the City of Buenos Aires said the area lacks the necessary surveillance. Last year they analyzed the progress of the 34 observations made in the Hospital in a 2002 report and found that they only solved three, with a "incipient breakthrough" in another eight. The failings are overpopulation, the "critical" state of the building and lack of staff.</p>
According to a report of the Auditor General of the City of Buenos Aires (AGCBA, for its acronym in Spanish), the Neuropsychiatric Hospital Dr. José T. Borda "continues to operate a child day care adjacent to Unit 11/22, where psychopaths and HIV carrying patients are hospitalized "without sufficient security and surveillance.”
The time reference is all the work of the inspection body, approved this year on data from 2006 and 2007, aimed to assess the progress of the 34 observations made in a report of 2004. Of that total, only three were solved and 31 others remain but with an "incipient breakthrough" in eight cases.
Among the most significant irregularities, highlights the AGCBA, are relapse and readmission of patients, a sort of "revolving door phenomenon." Also, a "tendency to longer hospitalizations and treatments necessary for psychosocial reasons" and overpopulation and saturation of services is recorded.
In the Borda "there is no unified medical record for the hospital’s services," says the report, adding that in some cases "one patient has different numbers in their clinical history.” Also, files are not kept with the evolution of inmates with long periods of stay.”
The lack of beds for hospitalization causes patients staying there to have "abusive behavior" with "people whose psychological structure exposes them to risk," says the audit. Besides, agencies are supposed to have availability for patients, "although not in suitable conditions."
Moreover, the report found that there are patients with pathologies that "do not meet the admission criteria" of the Borda, that is, they should be accommodated in nursing homes or other institutions, however, they remain there by court order.
In addition to the day care, "it continues to work in the field of Hospital Prison Unit 20" of the Federal Penitentiary Service, despite its contract having expired.”
The AGCBA noted that, in terms of personnel, "there is no proper distribution (for) the specialties" provided by the Borda. The health center said that "a significant number of retiring staff and not being replaced, which causes overloads," adding that at the time of the report, a year ago that there had been a competition for permanent hire of ten doctors, but it was never carried out.” "It is impossible for an adequate distribution when there is no human resource", completed the Borda.
However, the Watchdog said security and surveillance in the neuropsychiatric are "insufficient." On this, the Hospital assumed that "the situation worsened (because) there are more risks and fewer staff." For example, one of the three entrances to the property, were trucks with construction materials enter, is “almost always left open and unattended." For the 17 acres of the hospital, 18 people are needed per shift (for security only, (but) it only has eight," concluded the hospital.
The state of the Hospital is "critical", says the report and lists: "Health, elevators, telephone center, bedroom equipment, stoves, washing machines and dryers" continue in the same situation" regarding the 2004 audit.