I am writing this letter out of deep concern, frustration, and heartbreak regarding the ongoing crisis at Mount St. John Medical Center. What is happening within our nation’s only major public hospital is unacceptable, inhumane, and dangerous.
My father recently had his foot amputated and is now in a critical, life-or-death situation. He urgently requires A- or O-type blood. Despite the fact that this blood is reportedly available and can be replaced, he is being denied a transfusion. I must ask plainly: how is it acceptable that a man’s life is being put at risk due to what appears to be administrative failure or indifference?
This is not a minor inconvenience. This is a medical emergency. Families should never have to beg, plead, or publicly cry out for help while their loved ones lie helpless in a hospital bed. Yet here we are—watching, waiting, and fearing the worst.
Beyond this critical issue, the conditions at Mount St. John Medical Center are alarming. There is a lack of basic necessities such as clean bedsheets and proper ventilation. These are not luxuries; they are fundamental requirements for any healthcare facility. Patients deserve dignity, safety, and proper care, not neglect.
Our family is emotionally exhausted and devastated. We are crying out for help, not just for my father, but for every Antiguan and Barbudan who depends on this hospital for survival.
To the Minister of Health and the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda: we, the people of this nation, deserve far better when it comes to healthcare. Lives are being placed at risk, and the system is failing those it is meant to protect. Accountability, transparency, and immediate action are urgently needed.
This situation cannot be ignored. Healthcare is a right, not a privilege, and the people of Antigua and Barbuda deserve a system that reflects that truth.
Thank you.
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Despite the fact that this blood is “reportedly available”.
Who reported it as available? A doctor in that surgical department? The Medical director? the officer in charge of blood stores? Secondly, what reason did the hospital cite for denying the blood transfusion?
This is a version of your story. I don’t believe your story . There is more to it. Why would the hospital refused to give your father blood. Did your family or fathers family came there to donate blood and the hospital refused ? Tell us the truth.
What’s the reason cited for the “refusal”?
Did you donate to dad?
Did you family also donate?
Did your friends donate?
From your article you are demanding blood from others but have not made any efforts to replenish the hospitals supply or to suggest that you have.
That story seems rather odd to me and I do not know if the writer has presented all the information on the matter. As far as I am aware a hospital cannot legally refuse to give a person blood unless the person refuses to accept it or for religion reasons as with Jehovah’s Witnesses the person refuses it. Writer you need to provide more information.
Yes we want to no the reason
There is always a shortage of blood. For some reason, Antiguans and Barbudans are not willing to become donors and give blood regularly. If you or a member of your family is having surgery, the family is requested to get donors from family and friends. This is nothing new..The hospital, in fact no hospital, can manufacture blood.
This is the primary reason I couldn’t come back home to life. Although I love my country, the Healthcare system is far from up to par. I refuse to put my health and life at risk in the hands of SLBMC. Im accustomed to world class top tier medical system at UCLA medical system here in California and I refuse to put my health/life in the hands of a system that can’t even meet me “half way”. The current administration simply doesn’t give a dam, about the health of the people of Antigua, because they are all wealthy and can afford to medical airlift to the USA anytime they desire. I do believe this person’s story, because why would he or she risk public ridicule and embarrassment by posting “partially false or inaccurate” story at such a critical time. Lets wait and see the response from the minister of health and minister responsible for the constituency.
I agree with the above comments! If a family member is in need of blood at first family members would ask to donate . I’m trying to understand! Is it that his family refuses to donate ? I’ve donated to my family members three times , a friend once so I know family and close friends first. They have to replace what was used. That’s my understanding.
@Victor Browne.. I just saw this notice from a week ago “From #RedwoodNews:
Northern California Community Blood Bank is out of type O- blood. There are emergency supplies in local hospitals but without new donations, these can run out” I am also reading
“The American Red Cross is facing a severe blood shortage as requests from hospitals exceed the available supply, drawing down the blood supply by about 35% over the past month. The shortage is especially serious for platelets and type O, A negative and B negative blood.” see https://www.redcrossblood.org/local-homepage/news/article/blood-shortage-explained-rcbs.html . You guys really need to stop pretending that the US is perfect because with access to the internet its easy for us to see the lies. As for this issue, see the other comments
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