General hospitals, patients suffering

THE EDITOR: It would be an eye opener for the Minister of Health if he personally took the time to tour and observe the dismal and depressing state of the Wards at the General Hospital, which is the only avenue available to poor people who cannot afford expensive nursing homes, or have the finance or luxury of ministers etc to seek medical attention abroad.

Having recently visited a friend on Ward 32, I was appalled at the physical condition of the place. On the eastern side of the Wards several louvres are missing, and plastic sheeting is placed over these spaces. There is a shortage of beds, (my friend having to lie on a trolley from his admission after lunch on Thursday until after lunch on Friday of last week before getting a bed). There are patients in children sized beds having to keep their knees bent. The cupboard lockers provided are rusty and have wheels missing so they lean to one side. There are no bells to call for the nurse, so patients have to rely on their feeble shouts of ‘‘nurse’’ to be heard. Shortage of linen, pillows, toilet paper etc means you bring your own or do without. The whole scene is so depressing that no one can dispute the feeling that once you go to this hospital it is to die.

To crown it all, just before the bell sounded for the end of visitors’ time, a nuts vendor appeared in the Ward to sell his nuts ‘‘fresh or salt.’’ How can security or the nurses at their station allow this, for patients who presumably are on strict diets etc, so possibly it was to sell to visitors. Since we have so many millions of dollars to splurge, surely we can afford additional beds, new louvres and proper lockers to be provided. Unfortunately my people have become such a thieving nation that you hear stories of hospital linen being stolen, even equipment. The problem I am told is lack of management, then who is responsible for this? If the present management is not doing the job then replace them Mr Minister. Our citizens are suffering, take action please Mr Minister.

J S KELSICK
St Ann’s