Dr Morais Guy, opposition spokesperson on health and wellness, is expressing deep concern about new reports coming from some public hospitals indicating that there is a state of continued decline in patient care, service quality and maintenance of an already ageing infrastructure.

 In a press release today (December 5), Guy said Dr Christopher Tufton, the minister of health and wellness, must take full responsibility for the deteriorating conditions at these facilities.

The opposition spokesperson said: “the health minister must ensure that the appropriate administrative and governance arrangements are maintained in all hospitals to deliver modern healthcare services.”

Guy referenced the Bustamante Hospital for Children where reports of poor patient care and client mistreatment have surfaced. He noted that there has been no appropriate response from the ministry.

“When complaints such as these come from public institutions, the minister cannot wash his hands, but must take steps to assure the people of Jamaica that their public health institutions can provide proper care and attention,” he said.

Additionally, Guy said he was very concerned about a revealing media report over the weekend which detailed unsanitary conditions in many of the 14 hospitals and health centres recently surveyed.

“The report highlighted dirty bathrooms, missing toilet seats, wet floors, broken tiles and unpleasant odours as some of the infractions. He said these conditions pose a health risk and, therefore, require immediate attention from the minister and his team at the ministry’s head office,” the release said.

The Opposition spokesperson said the awful conditions could not be blamed on hospital administrations and janitorial services because their persistence reveals that the system is rotting at its core and the boards should have been aware of the health hazards in these institutions over which they have charge.

Guy is calling on the minister to get the appropriate funding for immediate maintenance work and to ensure trained staff as poor service quality is affecting all Jamaicans, particularly those who cannot afford private health care.