Cabinet Notes
The Cabinet questioned the Minister of Health on the SLBMC Emergency Room challenge, where those residents who go there for treatment must seemingly wait for a very long time to receive attention.
The Minister of Health explained that it is not uncommon for personnel assigned to the Emergency Room to call-in sick and, therefore, to reduce the number of personnel available to treat the sick.
He also explained that many patients who show up at the emergency room are really in need of “urgent care” and not “emergency care”.
He said that the Director of the SLBMC surveyed a number of patients who sought treatment at the Emergency Room (E.R.) in a fixed period; the diagnosis offered by the doctors concluded that less than 50% of the patients were of real “emergencies”, but in need of “urgent care”.
The Sir Lester Bird Medical Center is therefore planning to increase the number of doctors and nurses assigned to thhe Emergency Room and to quickly determine which patients fall into which of the two groups and to treat them accordingly.
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OMG…this is the total of his response to the Antiguan public? A non scientific poll of patients and medical personnel calling in sick? For an issue that has been going off for years and years. Mr. Minister, what are the root causes of the employees calling in sick? Could it be the deplorable working and stressful conditions that is present at the “world class” hospital? Furthermore, if patients are showing up to the emergency rooms with “urgent care” instead of “emergency care” needs, does that not speak of the need for well functioning community clinics? Come on Antigua people; we deserve better than this. Stop with the excuses. This is not a political issue; it is a cry for basic service for all Antiguans, especially poor people that cannot travel to the US for their medical needs. We need to stop settling for mediocrity!!
@justsaying
Sadly, there will be no easy fix and you are right, its not a alp or upp thing. However, the wasted money spent in acquiring the deluxe cinema could have been used to fully repair and equip two or three of the older clinics. The wasted money spent to ensure the alp HQ was finished along with the building next door, could have been used to pay the stipend that the nurses are arguing about. The new cliniics are white elephants cause there is no staff cause experienced nurses and doctors are paid less than junior staff (in other institutions or ministries), so staff leave
Yes staff are calling in sick cause people make them sick (bullying). HR admin people make them sick. Supervisors make them sick. Colleagues make them sick. Linestaff make them sick. And this dam heat in that highrise steel&concrete building will make everyone sick.
Long waiting in the ER is a problem that exists since Noah built his ark. It does not take a university graduate or a rocket scientist to put a proper system in place to speed up the process. Here’s my suggestion.
Stationed on outside of ER
1. Nurse logs name & check vitals
2. Dr check patient to determine urgency
3. Prescription written up for simple ailment
4. Patient sent inside to ER for urgent care
5. Patient in ER is seen by Dr A, Dr B, Dr C.
On the other hand a proper accountabilty system needs to be put in place for the Doctors & their stewardship. Patients are becoming victims of irresponsible practices of some doctors, thus causing patient’s life to be threatened….. Wrong medication / dosage are sometimes prescribed; Surgeons are very care free when carrying out surgical procedures; medical staff act hostile to patients and the list can on & on & on.
@bluddybloke
How will there be accountabilty when there is no accountability in cabinet
How will policies be enacted that might expose certain well-paid professionals, when these very persons fund campaigns
Some of the professionals supply some of the persons, who will have to hold the axe, with viagra
Pay people based on clear job descriptions and qualifications and have performance clauses in all contracts. In little wadaldi, that sounds impossible, doesnt it?
Oh you gat it all figured out.
@bloody
Simple ailments should be managed by the clinics n not the ER. The clinics need to play their part.
Free government clinics and public hospitals will always have staffing and resource issues. Healthcare is a right but GOOD healthcare is never cheap. Someone pays, either the patients or their insurance.
People in Antigua might need to pay more out-of-pocket (i’m just saying – please dont shoot the messenger) but we need to make sure the money collected remains in healthcare. The not-for-profit health insurance scheme here has a role to play in keeping people healthy as much as people have a role in keeping themselves healthy.
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