Hospital bed shortage

AMID criticism of the plan to move elderly patients from the St James Medical Complex in St James, the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) on Friday said 18 patients will be sent to private health facilities, but this will be done on a “phased” basis.

Moving the patients who are not in need of medical attention and making additional beds available in the NWRHA is “phase one” of the programme to improve conditions for the elderly.

Speaking at a media briefing at the NWRHA office on Dundonald Street, Chief Executive Officer Ursula Wilson said, “not all of the patients in the programme have been identified.”

She said all patients to be transferred will be assessed to determine the level of care they need. Three private facilities (Finbar Ryan Geriatric Home, Elizabeth Home and Blessed Quietness) have been identified to house patients from St James. Most of the patients to be moved are those who need minimal care and medical attention.

NWRHA Communications Manager, Danielle Jones, said the St James facility was not a convalescent home or poor house. “It is a medical institution with a fully running pharmacy, an active staff, gerontology ward. The National Radiotherapy Centre is housed there.”

Jones said the Government is not putting people out on the streets. Wilson said patients sent to private facilities would be monitored by the Health Ministry and NWRHA as well as the two coordinators for the programme.

“When a patient is moved to a home they will continue to be our patients.”

In response to concerns about the facilities where patients will be housed, Wilson said the private homes must fulfil criteria to “to ensure quality care is given.” To allay fears, she said patients or their relatives would be invited to see conditions.

Wilson said she had no information that a senior official at St James had an interest in a private home where patients would be sent. A meeting was scheduled at 10 am on Friday between officials from the Health Ministry, St James Medical Complex and the relatives of patients. However, Wilson was unaware of this and would not comment. She said a meeting took place three weeks ago and a decision taken that patients would be moved after they were assessed.

Dwayne Ramsey, 23, who is disabled, has been staying at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital since 2003.

He is worried about being back on the streets. Disabled People’s International has taken up his cause and is trying to find him a place.

Ramsey said he was advised to leave the hospital before he is embarrassed. Asked about the case, Jones told Newsday the NWRHA needs more details. Decanting has not yet been scheduled for PoSGH.