LETTER: When will long wait times at the hospital end?

1. This is indeed madness. It OUGHT NOT be that a person has to wait that long to see a doctor at the hospital. This has been happening for far toooooooo long. It is beyond comprehension that the main hospital sometimes has only ONE doctor on duty.

   And listen, don’t come under this post trying to blame any particular administration because this problem existed since V.C. Bird’s time at Holberton Hospital, and carried into Lester Bird’s administration, then Baldwin Spencer’s government, and now Gaston Browne’s government. None have fixed the problem. It seems to me that the real problem is the culture at the hospital that started long, long, long ago and has been passed down to all new staff by the old ones.

   Enough of the madness!!!

2. Another possible contributing factor is the aggressive attractive recruitment packages being offered to entice good English speaking Caribbean doctors & nurses to North America, UK & Ireland, countries also suffering from acute shortages of frontline medical professionals.

   This draining of professional Caribbean medical resources has been going on for decades.
   It’s akin to the plundering of our shores in the 1700-1800’s.

   Not going to stop until the region respects and pays public service medical professionals a market salary, on time, along with solid benefits package.
   Surely the pandemic has at least taught us their value and critical importance to our lives?

   • Thank you very much…..still waiting on our covid-19 package 📦$$ and still waiting for the day when we will be treated fairly stop been under paid n over worked and for visitors, clients, patients and their friends n relatives to be mannersable and respectful while we are struggling to stay above water amid the struggles we face (eg) shortage of stuff, lack of respect n bad treatment from management, no pension at the end of retirement over worked n under paid and not been able to achieved a house or piece of land after been on the Frontline exposing ourselves to danger n putting our family at risk while saving n sustaining lives. Our salary doesn’t allow us or qualify us for a loan.
     As workers we go through the same waiting process as everyone else in or out of uniform…….
     From outside looking in is far way different from been on the inside.

     • One solution could be to expand the science programmes so that more medical persons can be trained. So, we would have enough for our local needs and even for “export” to other countries… more employment is always useful. Persons in charge could consult directly with STEM educators to get more ideas as to improvements in facilities, equipment etc. needed in those programmes. It’s definitely sad that civil servants including nurses have such a hard time qualifying for loans for homes locally. Something should be done to correct that.

   • Interesting point you make, literally tens of thousands of health care workers in general lost their jobs here in the Deranged States because of their refusal to take the covid “vaccine”.
     Lovely world we live in aint it?

   • Stay Alert – I replied below, not sure of how my comment got out of order.

     I think you make some great points.

3. When the people of Antigua and Barbuda get the rid of the failed experiment called the ABLP.

   • @KNIGHT IN SHINNING ARMOR, you conscientious nincompoop, the problem existed when UPP was in government and they certainly did NOT fix it. As a matter of fact, the problem was worse while Danny Boy was Minister of Health. Do you remember the death rate was so high among patients that a certain UPP Health Minister was called Graveyard John?

     Don’t try to start pointing any fingers because this problem exists for a time longer than garling legs.

4. I went to the hospital days after I met in an accident. The lady at the front said it was not an emergency since I decided to come days after the accident. No problem to me. They took my name and said that I need to wait, this was about 10:00 in the morning or so, mind me it was during the pandemic so at 8:00 or so we must be off the streets. I waited until a little after 8:00 in the night and I never left the chair I took. I left and went to my private doctor for help the next day. Months after I received a bill from the hospital (that made me wait so long) saying Medical Benefit won’t honor the bill so I have to pay it. After looking at the bill, it said the use of the ER Dept a fee, urine sample a fee, medication in the ER a fee. Mind me I never left my chair. I called and you know what they said I did all them things. I said lady you all better show me on that camera because the document you all claimed that your department signed is actually signed by my doctor and not the hospital. I sent them the copies of the document/s in an email. I told the lady mam, I did not do any urine analysis or get into your rooms. I mentioned that the only way for me to enter the ER would be for one of them to let me or for me to have a key card and I don’t work there so how did I get in and who administered thatse medicines to me and why was I not told I got imaginary medicines to me when you bill is for the date of the accident when I didn’t even come that day. The day in question I didn’t see anyone so who’s bill is that? I’m so glad that Medical Benefit turn them down.

5. So true people are still spending an entire day in casualty. Them and them family bar go through this stuff . They go Dr.John and fly away ……….

6. Scott- No overseas country taking anyone that is not fully vaccinated.

7. What do you expect when the medical director is paid so much money and has no clue how to direct, so he does what molwyn wants?
   Get rid of Molwyn the confusion creator, then the ministry of health can put persons in place who fight for better for everyone. Too much grabby-grabby lickly-lickly and self-absorbed people are in control that ministry.

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