LETTER: Questions to the health minister Molwyn Joseph

18
Sir Molwyn Joseph

Dear Mr. Joseph

In recent times, SLBMC has become a victim of a barrage of complaints. Sadly, these complaints concerns the basic day to day operations of the hospital, the wellbeing of the staff and some unfavorable incidents that some patients have encountered.

Now minister Joseph, if your administration is working feverishly towards taking this country to the next level and transforming it into an Economic Power House, why then are these complaints not addressed immediately?

We all know that health care always form the corner stone of a country. Therefore, SLBMC, our main public medical facility, should be operating at its optimum.  At the sametime, we cannot allow such facility to deteriate since we depend  highly on tourism.

As a concern citizen and one who wants the best health care for this little paradise, a paradise that love, I decided to ask you the following questions …..

1. Medical Students:  Why are our medical students who have completed their studies and now returning home to offer their services to the country of their birth, are having challenges to enrol into the health care system? Shouldn’t these students be given priority to be a part of the medical fraternity and  be staffed at SLBMC or the clinics, since there is a shortage of manpower?

2. The ER unit:  Why isn’t our ER dept not equipped with two doctors on the front line to attend to the patients who are there to get medical attention…. ? Isn’t the waiting time to see a doctor extremely worrisome to you?

3. The Polyclinics : Why are these facilities not open daily up to 12 midnight? Don’t you think it will relieve the medical staff at SLBMC  of the frustration,  pressure & stress from the large number of patients seeking medical attention?

4. Shorter work shift: Why are our doctors & nurses overwhelmed & traumatised with working hours of 24 to 30 hours without sleep? Is it not better for both the patient & doctor if the doctor is on call for a maximum of 12 hours?

5. Proper accountability: Why isn’t there a system in place to allow a patient the privilege to file complaints & seek a recourse of action concerning traumatic medical matters that patients may have experienced?

6. A national Insurance : Unlike MBS who  compensate a patient for certain diseases, why isn’t a national insurance in place to help the poor & needy with financial aid for surgeries & other medical care done locally or overseas?

7. Training: Why aren’t the nurses & auxiliary staff at SLBMC getting frequent training in customer service, conflict resolution & stress management ? Don’t you think that some staff are too boisterous & unfriendly to patients?

8. A medical database :  Why isn’t SLBMC fully computerized & networked so that doctors & nurses can login from their workstation anywhere in the hospital and access the historical data of the patient?

9. Concessions:  Why are the doctors & nurses paid such low salaries & not being given a proper insurance plan and given other benefits such as concessions on houses, lands & cars?

10. Feedback: Why doesn’t the Administrative staff of SLBMC have as a part of their role, a direct face to face visit with patients to get feed backs of the patient’s complaints & concerns while on the wards?

11. Inventory & procurement: Why is there always shortage of basic supplies such as sheets, toiletries, sanitizers etc? Isn’t there a proper inventory & procurement system in place?

12. Recruiting staff:  Why aren’t the students at the University of Five Islands & those returning from Cuba high on the list as recruits for SLBMC?

13. Meals for patients: why are the meals including tea delivered to the patients, cold or luke warm? Shouldn’t the patients receive hot meals at all time unless prescribed otherwise by the doctor?

14. Why are some patients who suffer with a chronic illness, not given an ID card so that whenever they arrive at the hospital’s ER dept, the patient will be recognized as one who needs immediate care?

Alex

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18 COMMENTS

  1. ANR – where is the story about the Filipinos[Maids]? Are you being CENSORED by the RED_BRIGADE?

    Next…
    Is the writer #Alex_Feng? Because, only this [Alex] has the Power Of The People behind him.

    So, Alex you might want to contact #Alex_Feng for your answers, to these questions asked of Molwyn?

    Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
    De’ole Dutty Peg🦶🏿Garrat_Bastard

    Vere C. Edwards

  2. Molwyn is only interested in spray painting a hairline on his abnormally large and vacant cranium which is completely void of original thought and he also suffers from chronic verbal diarrhea.

  5. They are getting AI first before nurses, doctors and sheets, towels, and toilet paper. The MRI machine and dialysis machines work sometimes, but these will have to wait for AI. They will use the peoples money which will include a hefty commission to some likely politician. And the air conditioners are still waiting to be fixed. What kind of people are they?

  6. I was thinking of applying for a job as tax collection officer, but I am afraid. Antigua is the wild, Wild West where people do as they like while in bed with Ministers. The business people know of the corruption and are part of the system. I want to sleep peacefully at night without fear. When I think about it, why should I worry about tax collection when the Antiguan people won’t see the benefits. How about paying some of these business people what is owed to them?
    Why should the business people pay if there is no consequence if they don’t. How many of them will be prosecuted and have their assets seized.
    In some third world countries, the tax collectors go out and come back with luxury vehicles and mansions with no questions asked.
    I suggest that Senator Shoul be involved as he said on your radio station that he knows how to collect the tax.

  7. First things first. Thee Minister is no longer just Mr. Joseph, he is Sir Molwyn Joseph.
    Knighted is among the ABLP perks, so here are a few clarifications to the issues you have raised.
    1. Many of the professional organizations in Antigua function as door keepers. The door-keeping’s function is to restrict the number of trained professionals who enters their area of practice. Minister Joseph don’t have any problems with that situation and the impact it has on the quality of National healthcare
    2. ER units normally has a triage which prioritizes the level of attention given; where many of the doctors in the emergency room are trained as specialists in emergency care. SLBMC is not a medical institution that the Minister visits for medical care. He is fully aware that SLBMC is under-resourced and lacks the ability to operate in a way you and the public would expect.
    3. Medical interns and residents doing their residency. Many studies have shown that doctor who are forced to work long shifts are prone to make mistakes.
    The ACGME which accredits the hospital programs that most of the elites of Antigua and Barbuda visits off island for medical attention. require a maximum of 80 hrs per week.
    Within those hours are whats called the strategic napping clause as part of the alertness management strategy.
    Such things are not a part of the inking of the GOAB

    Not to bore you with my take on your insightful questions. Please read the MOU/Agreements recently signed by the Minister and his colleagues with The Government of China
    Keeping in mind a few things. This is a community which grumble and complain behind close doors. And the Minister is fully aware. Irrespective of the relevance of your question you will never see the Minister take each of these questions and attempt to provide credible answers.

  8. Maybe Sir Molywyn is too busy feathering his own nest to address such issues?
    I could be wrong though…

  9. Her is an excerpt of coverage on result of a African Country which had a tragic past and now the Government’s is turning the Country around and do not offer up Economic Powerhouse BS
    A thriving and rapidly evolving cultural center that’s often referred to as the “Singapore of Africa,” Rwanda’s capital boasts a booming arts scene, eco-luxury hotels, trendy fashion boutiques, urban green spaces, and some of the best restaurants on the continent.

    In 2015, the country’s government launched an initiative called Made in Rwanda, which encouraged citizens to shop locally and banned the import of donated clothing bundles (mitumba.) Besides bolstering the local textile industry, officials there also prioritized attracting and retaining young talent, as well as increasing the population’s tech literacy.
    As a result, a new generation of Rwandans were able to launch their own creative projects, which helps explain a recent explosion of innovative attractions, from award-winning pan-African restaurants to sustainable jewelry shops—all of which prove that Rwanda is so much more than its tragic past.
    The “Singapore of Africa, the nickname of Rwanda is unfortunate. But it speaks to an organically driven thriving local economy. For 70 years we in Antigua and Barbuda have been dependent on FDI; now we have switched to economic development model partnerships like the recent China agreements that taking us back into an era of dependency and beggars.

  10. When you the ruling party supporters are a combination of The Elites, The Effete and The Enfeebled. The issues raised does not matter. There will never be a rational honest answer to any of the issues raised.

    The Elites fly off to London and the Mayo Clinic, when its clear Dr. J can’t handle them in his Ambulatory care center.

    The Effetes go off to their families in Maimai New York and Atlanta where they have a connection to get them Medicaid Coverage. Thirty-Five percent 35% of Antigua and Barbuda babies are born this way. It takes a burden off the Medical Benefits Fund and well as SLBMC. When Uncle Sam finds out; Antigua and Barbuda will not see a penny ever from the WTO Off-Shore Gaming windfall it’s still looked to get recently.

    The Enfeebled has no choice but to end up in SLBMC hoping that they will get out alive.

    The Elites has no interest in the questions raised. They are too busy making sure their homes that has the appearances of detention centers are seen and talked about. Their self-worth with is the auto/SUV they drive with the darkened windows.
    I suspect that these darkened auto windows are to hide their sight from the trash, and the filth as well as the Enfeebles they pass along the roads every day.

    I chuckled at the two attorneys appearing before the Privy Council recently babbling like kids with their outer appearances being their worth. Their looks and mannerisms and the gaudy jewelry, the bow-tied ill-fitting attire reminded me of the white sand powdery beaches and the filthy surroundings throughout the island. Thats the trademark of Antigua.

    The healthcare system and SLBMC is no different, a highly visible structure which itself is dysfunctional in every imaginable way; and a healthcare system than has virtually fallen apart.

  11. @Brix and Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood

    To my man of words down on the Chesapeake Bay. Sorry about the Ravens. So long as a man of African roots win as a quarterback: I’m fine.

    Did Gaston and his Ministers leave Dr Ray and TenMan to complete the inauguration of the Antigua and Barbuda Embassy in China. Did they leave them back in China for they are missing in action.

    It would be nice to have an Embassy headed by a man with a PHD of some kind. We have stoop so low there is no lower to go I hope.

    • Hail CountryMan Abroad, ah wah ah guarne?!
      When you know the fix is in, Las Vegas style, the NFL – the National Fixed League is gonna go with the money maker for their Championship Game which has nothing, to do with the best teams of the Season.
      This is the #Taylor_Swift Bowl. In the world of entertainment today, #STREAMING_MATTERS, and Taylor Swift brings an extra 100million streamers to the platform. Money! Mo Money! Only Money! Lamar Jackson don’t have this kind of pull. But hey! We’ll probably get a # HAUGHBAUG_BOWL (SUPERBOWL) the next two to three .years.

      Now to Rwanda, great example of resilience and endurance. It’s my understanding, that a great part of this resurgence besides empowering the youths, is the empowerment of women within the Government. Something which is very lacking in Antigua, Barbuda & REDONDA.

      We already know, that Antigua’s Culture is powered by CLASSISM with #degree_of_separation. To some degree, this causes stagnation, especially, when dealing with such things as cronyism, corruption, insider trading, and those negatives which still keep us as #beggars, #panhandlers and #prostitutes.

      Time is longer than rope, and if Rwanda can do what they’re doing, we can too.

      I’m optimistic! Antigua, Barbuda & BARBUDA needs a Shamar Joseph, not a Molwyn Joseph moment.

      Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
      De’ole Dutty Peg🦶🏿Garrat_Bastard

      Vere C. Edwards

  14. @ RAS Smood
    Seems like Lamar Jackson needs his own Beyoncé hookup
    Staying true to our culture: my choice is Sona Jobarteh, whose voice and music is enduring and sustaining.

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