Health Commissioners tour St Ann’s Hospital

PROBLEMS of overcrowding at wards and the much maligned kitchen were among the issues raised yesterday, as commissioners investigated the operations and delivery of public health services, when they visited and toured part of the St Ann’s Psychiatric Hospital. The kitchen is earmarked for completion by July at a cost of $1.6 million. It was the first official visit to a public health institution by members of the Commission of Inquiry into the operations and delivery of health services, who are expected to begin public hearings in June. The commission is chaired by Gladys Gaffoor, with members Dr Geoffrey Frankson, Wazir Hosein, Glen Wilson and Yvonne Pilgrim.

Speaking before the tour, Gafoor said she was unhappy with a brief of the hospital she had received. She called on heads of departments to “show us what is needed at St Ann’s and we will try to remedy some of the ills,” by persuading the authorities to attend to the problems and needs of the institution. She also called on them to “speak freely and not be afraid,” assuring that if they wished, the commission would hear them separately and in-camera (privately). In calling on the heads to relate general problems being experienced, the commissioners got an earful as it related to overcrowding and the kitchen. Carol Johnson, the representative PSA secretary for the institution, called for the admissions of patients to be addressed. She pointed out that while some wards were severely overcrowded, others were virtually empty.

She said in one ward there were 72 chronic male patients with a staff of less than 12, and some 60 beds in varying states of “being broken.” However, Medical Chief of Staff at the institution, Dr Ian Hypolite, said the matter was not a simple one and could not be totally eradicated. He said the matter was recently discussed, but there were a lot of chronic patients who are not wanted by relatives. One staff member said while nurses tried their best to cope with the problem, bottlenecks are created when some doctors do not visit, and relatives refuse to accept patients. He said St Ann’s was used as a “dumping ground to abandon patients,” and suggested that relatives be educated on why the patients have to be sent home at times. Hospital administrator Dr Mutchinson Melville announced that the Ministry of Social Services Delivery was looking into the matter to try to find foster homes for chronic patients. He said how “fast the system works reflects here.”

Senior dietician, Joancinthe Huwiler, raised the issue of the temporary kitchen. She highlighted the delay in having the new kitchen built and the inconveniences with the temporary kitchen. Huwiler said they were forced to use refurbished equipment in the temporary kitchen and had to protest to get some things done to make them more comfortable. She complained bitterly about the methods of purchasing food from grocers instead of manufacturers, whom she said did not want to credit the hospital. She said one supplier was now grudgingly providing supplies. She could not understand why the policy of the institution did not allow for patients to have beef, and why relatives were not allowed to bring meals for their loved ones.

She said after the eggnog fiasco a few years ago, the practice was stopped. Gaffoor saw no harm in relatives bringing food for patients, however, noting that relatives would not want to poison their own family. Dr Hypolite defended the policy, saying it was felt that encouraging the practice would have implications if there was a problem, as patients sometimes shared their food. As for the kitchen, Melville said it is expected to be completed by July at a cost of $1.6 million. Another concern was the fact that this is yet another inquiry which might not achieve any real purpose. However, Gaffoor noted that they had no control over implementation, but hoped to make some very serious recommendations. The commissioners are expected to return to complete their visit of St Ann’s next week.