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All is not well at Alexandra Hospital |
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Staying away from high intensity issues involving governmental wrangles especially when the hospital and health are involved is not always easy. Unfortunately, I have to jump in on this because it hits close to home. We have for long been on differences of opinions regarding Alexandra Hospital and the services rendered there. Concerns regarding equipment, supplies, laws, rules and regulations governing the hospital exist and the conflicts are overwhelming.
For some time now we have been unable to get word on the new ultrasound machine that government claimed to have purchased for the hospital. There was a very interesting radio program that callers and hosts claimed the machine was state of the art and high tech, up and running and was rated so highly that it seemed the only thing the machine was incapable of doing was to create human lives.
Of course, the health minister and his hardcore folks said all was great. Callers to radio stations said the machine was not working and the question is still left unanswered, is the new ultrasound machine at the Alexandra hospital functional?
Individuals who dare mention anything negative about the hospital are publicly ridiculed on airwaves and other places even though the truth is being told. Apparently, some have also been terminated as well. Government has always stated that things at the hospital are good, but is that really the truth?
Former hospital administrator Mrs. Veta Morton who was transferred from her position at the hospital, stated her case publicly in the St. Kitts / Nevis Observer, article captioned “Authority – Mired in a Morass of Low Standards” which reveals a monster administration. Some very revealing information regarding the ineptness and ineffective running of the hospital were brought to light by one who was at the helm. All is not well and good with the Nevis health ministry and the Alexandra Hospital. Although the doctors, nurses and staff are excellent, something sinister is at work in high places and the welfare of patients at the hospital is deeply compromised and in grave jeopardy.
The patient was well prepared and set to have a procedure done on the last Tuesday in May, after months of guidance and preparedness by her physician. Everything was set to go, time off from work already arranged, hospital admission approved, anesthesiologist already paid, gown and cap on patient and surgeon with equipment close at hand was standing by when the setback came. There is no sterilization liquid for the equipment and tools so the procedure has to be postponed.
Well, call St. Kitts and request some sterilization liquid.
OK! But they say they do not have enough to share so the operation must be delayed.
Call the administrator, she can get her contacts and get some to Nevis on the next flight from Antigua.
Nope! She is no longer here.
Well, what must we do? The patient is on the bed and the doctor is ready, everything is set to go.
Sorry! We do not have the liquid so the procedure has to wait.
Thankful it was not a life and death situation or else I might have been writing a different story today.
The Alexandra Hospital is sadly in dire need of competent management. Essential and basic supplies, basic necessities that are expected to be on hand have often been lacking. We cannot afford to play politics with the health of our people. We cannot afford to have our hospital that render services to our people be so unprepared and unprofessional in taking care of the required responsibilities. We cannot allow our government ministers and affiliates to continue misspeaking about the state of affairs at our hospital. We need the truth. We need our hospital to function in the manner expected and the way we have been accustomed to. The pathetic politicization overshadowing our hospital is unacceptable and has to stop before a catastrophe takes place here on our island. Human lives are at stake. |
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