His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday paid a surprise visit to the emergency department at Al Bashir Hospital to check on medical services offered to Jordanians, as the hospital receives an increasing number of patients.

King Abdullah toured the emergency department building, as well as the internal medicine and the surgery wards, checking on patients and visitors.

His Majesty listened to citizens’ concerns and the difficulties they face, checking on their health and the healthcare services provided to them.

The King stressed the importance of enhancing the level and quality of medical services offered to patients around the Kingdom, calling for utilising all available resources to provide the best services in the healthcare sector and others.

His Majesty called for expediting the implementation of the new emergency department building project to boost the capabilities and infrastructure of the hospital, which was established in 1954 in Amman’s Ashrafieh area and has been undergoing ongoing maintenance and expansion over three phases starting in 2002 at a cost of nearly JD74 million.

The King affirmed that Jordanians’ health and access to quality medical services and healthcare is a top priority, stressing the need for citizens to sense an improvement in services.

His Majesty also commended doctors and medical and technical cadres, as well as other employees at the hospital, which employs 3,300 staff members including 960 physicians, expressing pride in their noble mission and their dedication, especially as they work around the clock in the fasting month of Ramadan.

During the visit to the hospital, which has a capacity of 1,100 beds, the King was briefed by its director, Ammar Shorafa, on services provided to patients and plans to develop the hospital further.

Adviser to His Majesty and Director of the Office of His Majesty Manar Dabbas and Royal Hashemite Court Secretary General Yousef Issawi, who heads a committee to follow up on the implementation of royal initiatives, accompanied His Majesty on the visit.