Opposition calls for healthcare reform after visitor dies at airport

   

The parliamentary opposition is calling for urgent healthcare reforms in western Jamaica following the death of a visitor to the island at the Sangster International Airport in St. James last week.

 

On Wednesday, 71-year-old Leroy Smith was returning to the United States after visiting his family when he fell and hit his head at the baggage counter.

 

Transport Minister Daryl Vaz is to investigate concerns that the airport's management was slow in rendering assistance.

 

The lack of an available ambulance is also under investigation.

 

Spokesman on Health Dr. Alfred Dawes says the opposition cannot ignore the serious lack of a functioning healthcare system, particularly in Jamaica's tourism capital, which has already prompted travel advisories from the United States.

 

Dr. Dawes says the government should prioritise public spending on fixing critical issues in healthcare.

 

"It is unfortunate that during this time of mourning the family has to be subjected to a public discourse, surrounding the death of their loved one at the Sangster International Airport. It is even more unfortunate that the official response has been one of blame shifting away from the Ministry of Health and the emergency medical services that ought to be available at the Fire Brigade. Less than five minutes away, the Flanker Fire Brigade should have had an ambulance stationed with an emergency technical team available for deployment. That service is no longer functional," he complained. 

 

The opposition spokesman also criticised the Ministry of Health for not speaking publicly on the tragic airport incident.

 

Dr. Dawes said the ministry should clarify the percentage of its ambulance fleet that is functional and explain why a newly purchased ambulance at Cornwall Regional Hospital was unable to respond to last Wednesday's incident at Sangster International Airport. 

 

"To say that there are five ambulances at the Cornwall Regional Hospital is misleading. In fact, only two out of those five ambulances are road worthy. One functions primarily as a shuttle bus, transferring patients between facilities for diagnostic services that have been outsourced, which leaves only one functioning emergency response vehicle, which at the time of the distress call, was attending to another emergency," he contended.