Hospital bed petition wins Sands’ support

By SANCHESKA DORSETT

Tribune Staff Reporter

sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

HEALTH Minister Dr Duane Sands said yesterday he “fully supports” a recently launched petition urging the government to increase the number of beds and improve the service at the Rand Memorial Hospital  in Grand Bahama.

The petition, which was launched by Chishna Bowe, has received nearly 1,500 signatures.

In the petition, which is addressed to Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, Ms Bowe said for “several years the Rand Memorial Hospital in Freeport has been plagued with the problem of insufficient beds for its patients.” She claimed that “sick and weak” patients are forced to sleep in chairs “for up to 48 hours” because there is no room for the patients on any of the wards.

When asked for comment, Dr Sands said he is aware of the problem at RMH, adding the government is “currently working” to fix the issues.

“The hospital has a number of challenges. Some are infrastructural, some are service related and others related to scope and vision,” Dr Sands said.

“We intend to modernise the delivery of healthcare through the Bahamas and we are working to fix all the issues. It will take some time but I certainly support the goal of this petition.”

In the petition, which has a goal of 1,500 signatures, Ms Bowe said: “For several years the Rand Memorial Hospital in Freeport has been plagued with the problem of insufficient beds for its patients. Sick, weak, painful, Bahamian citizens come to the Accident and Emergency Department for medical care and in many cases, need to be admitted to the ward for medical supervision.

“Unfortunately, they are often told that there are insufficient beds and as a result are subjected to being confined to the Emergency Room. This has no restroom facility; the hospital is not able to provide proper medical attention from the doctors and nurses as they are swamped dealing with the incoming emergency patients coming in by ambulance. To make matters worse, when those beds run out then patients are given a chair! That’s right, you are gravely ill, or weak, or painful and you have to actually sit in a chair for 10, 24, 48 hours or even longer. This is unacceptable and inhumane and we have all been victims ourselves or have family and friends who have been victims of the ‘no beds’ fiasco.

“I have been a victim myself and it was a horrifying experience. Please, let’s provide the basic necessity for our people and respectable and comfortable healthcare.”

Earlier this month, Dr Sands told The Tribune scores of patients are being forced to sleep on gurneys in the hallways at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Nassau because of challenges with overcrowding and a shortage of beds.

Dr Sands said the situation is “embarrassing” and it is sad people have to stay in the hallways for up to “three to four days” because “there is just nowhere to put them.”

Dr Sands said the problem will require deliberate structural change, which will not happen in the short-term. 

Comments

tell_it_like_it_is says...

Sands really needed a petition to address this? And what about Nassau?<br/>
By the way Sands, will you ever state "specifically" what your plans are to remedy this and other ills?

Posted 25 August 2017, 4:19 p.m. Suggest removal

TalRussell says...

Comrades! It's highly unlikely I could have created a sitcom character like Minister Duane. Him exhibits some strange things..... Even the minister tourism is beginning to look good... well, better?

Posted 25 August 2017, 4:39 p.m. Suggest removal

EasternGate says...

Why is everyone so timid about addressing a prime reason why there are shortage of beds? Far too many elderly patients are abandoned by the families at the hospital. The hospital is just baby sitting them because they can't discharge them!

Posted 25 August 2017, 7:18 p.m. Suggest removal

DreamerX says...

Full agree, I received second hand anecdotal information on this from Nurses and PCT's from a few areas. There is also allegations of at least two (2) children who were born with medical conditions and abandoned by the parent/s and has lived at hospitals for 3-6 years.

Posted 26 August 2017, 12:12 p.m. Suggest removal

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