Princess Margaret Hospital. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune staff
By Leandra Rolle
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
SENATOR Dr Michael Darville has called for the government to address the reasoning behind "malfunctioning sterilisation equipment” at Princess Margaret Hospital, which have reportedly led to the suspension of several elective surgeries at the hospital.
According to Dr Darville elective surgeries at PMH were postponed for over a week due to the issue.
“The Ministry of Health must explain how is it that elective surgeries have been suspended for more than one week reportedly because of malfunctioning sterilisation equipment,” the Progressive Liberal Party Senator said in a press statement Thursday.
“The government must explain how the equipment got to the state it is currently in, the steps being taken to resolve this challenge and the proactive measures to be implemented to avoid a recurrence of this nightmare."
However, speaking on the matter earlier this week, Health Minister Dr Duane Sands said the issue was being dealt with, noting that one of the sterilisation machines had already been repaired.
The Tribune understands that elective surgeries at PMH have already been resumed.
Despite this, Dr Darville noted that working conditions at the Public Hospital Authority’s healthcare facilities have “steadily deteriorated” over the last several months.
Calling the country’s public health system “dysfunctional", he said: “The air condition systems don’t work, the children’s ward can’t get fixed, nurses and doctors can’t get paid outstanding funds duly owed to them and now the sterilisation equipment don’t work.”
“…While the part time health minister who wants to play both service provider and regulator insults healthcare professionals, describes the problems in the system and blames the PLP.”
“Patients, loved ones and Bahamians generally are losing confidence in the PHA," he said.
The Tribune understands that elective surgeries at PMH have already been resumed.
Despite this, Dr Darville noted that working conditions at the Public Hospital Authority’s healthcare facilities have “steadily deteriorated” over the last several months.
Calling the country’s public health system “dysfunctional", he said: “The air condition systems don’t work, the children’s ward can’t get fixed, nurses and doctors can’t get paid outstanding funds duly owed to them and now the sterilisation equipment don’t work.”
“…While the part time Health Minister who wants to play both service provider and regulator insults healthcare professionals, describes the problems in the system and blames the PLP.”
“Patients, loved ones and Bahamians generally are losing confidence in the PHA.”
Comments
bahamianson 4 years, 3 months ago
Wow, I am afraid.Who cares, senator. Your words are insignificant.
geostorm 4 years, 3 months ago
Patients, loved ones and Bahamians generally are losing confidence in the PHA," he said.
They get the service that they pay for and since a good number of Bahamians feel entitled to everything free, they get the service that free gives them!
We need to start collecting fees for the services offered at our public health facilities. The revenue can then be used for the maintenance and upkeep of our healthcare facilities. People are expecting the government to work miracles with the little revenue that they collect. *Newsflash......it takes a great deal of money to keep our facilities going!**
joeblow 4 years, 3 months ago
… in this country it does not matter how much money is collected because it continues to be wasted. Yet still they will not stop the financial hemorrhage that cripples health care services because of the beneficiaries!
joeblow 4 years, 3 months ago
I think the good doctor forgets that under the PLP they had similar issues at PMH. Maybe he should give advice on how to address the problems since they have had to deal with them too!
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