JMDA says CRH in 'devastated state' following Hurricane Melissa

The Jamaica Medical Doctors' Association (JMDA) has written to Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton requesting an urgent meeting with his ministry amid what it said are statements by officials which do not reflect the "devastated state" of the Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) following the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

The group said it was requesting the meeting to discuss the state of the health-care system in the western and southern regions following the hurricane.

The JMDA said reports from its members, as well as from the JMDA Disaster Response Team's assessment, indicate that the CRH "remains in a devastated state with severely degraded infrastructure, flooded wards, and a bed capacity reduced by more than 65 per cent".

"Patients, including pregnant women, are reportedly being accommodated on chairs due to the lack of available beds. These conditions have rendered the facility unsafe and have severely compromised patient care and staff welfare," it added.

The JMDA said the situation on the ground is in contrast to statements by the Chief Executive Officer of Cornwall Regional Hospital, Charmaine Beckford-Williams, which also conflicted with those by the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA).

It said on November 4, the WRHA issued an advisory urging "pregnant women, patients scheduled for surgeries, and individuals due for cancer treatment to seek medical attention at hospitals outside of Western Jamaica in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa."

The advisory noted that several health facilities, including CRH, had sustained damage "that temporarily affected their ability to deliver key services."

Subsequently, on November 6, Beckford-Williams, stated in an interview posted on the official Instagram page of the St James Municipal Corporation that "all areas of the health facility are offering reduced services following the impact of Hurricane Melissa."

She further indicated that one of the major challenges being faced is a shortage of water, and, "if this is addressed soon, operations will continue at full speed."

"The statements issued by the WRHA and the CRH are not congruent, and the latter is incongruent with the reality on the ground," the JMDA said.

It noted that prior to Hurricane Melissa, doctors and other healthcare workers were already working in suboptimal conditions. It said the current situation has exacerbated these issues, resulting in deplorable working conditions that jeopardise morale, safety, and service delivery

The JMDA urged the Ministry of Health to take immediate action to address the inconsistencies, accurately communicate the true state of affairs, and outline an actionable plan to restore safe and adequate working and patient-care conditions at Cornwall Regional Hospital.

"Our doctors are growing increasingly restless, and timely engagement is essential to prevent further deterioration in service delivery and staff welfare," The JMDA said.

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