Nagra Plunkett, Staff Reporter
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE CORNWALL Regional Hospital (CRH) in Montego Bay, St. James, is reporting difficulties in financing its operations, even as the cost of treating trauma cases continues to skyrocket because of escalating gun violence and assault.
"Millions are spent to treat violence-related injuries at CRH and it only recovers about 30 per cent of outstanding fees from patients," Everton Anderson, the hospital's chief executive officer, told The Gleaner earlier this week.
"We now have an in-house programme promoting fee payments and working out amicable payment arrangements with patients."
Mr. Anderson was responding to questions regarding the facility's ability to handle the increasing number of trauma cases that show up in the wards.
Figures from the hospital's Injury Surveillance System show that between January and May this year, the cases have ranged from intentional laceration (274), assault (199), stab wounds (160), sexual assault (76), gunshot wounds (88) and unknown injuries (1,029).
TRAUMA CASES TROUBLING
The CEO noted that the high incidence of trauma cases has had a troubling impact on the timely delivery of service to other patients who access the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Unit.
"Injuries have impacted on the cost of running the hospital, as well as the waiting time for patients who come to the A&E Unit," he said. "Even with adequate staffing, violence-related injuries present a shock to the system especially when they are presented in large numbers."
The Cornwall Regional Hospital, which admitted its first patient on March 31, 1974, is located two miles from downtown Montego Bay. It is the referral hospital for all health facilities in the western region and also provides health care to residents from the central region of Jamaica.
