'Overcrowding crisis' sparks nurse protest at Cornwall Regional Hospital

 

President of the Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ), Dawn-Marie Richards, has said there is a major overcrowding crisis at Cornwall Regional Hospital in St. James and called for the authorities to address the matter in order to protect the lives of patients.

 

Mrs. Maria Richards was reacting to Friday's protest action by nurses at the hospital.

 

The nurses, who picketed the facility on Friday morning, argued that the staff, particularly those in the Accident and Emergency Department, are working in inhumane and unhealthy conditions.

 

Speaking with the Radio Jamaica News on Friday afternoon, Mrs. Richards said the overcrowding at the hospital has become more severe since the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

 

"So we would have known that Cornwall Regional Hospital has been having some challenges in terms of infrastructure. The allotted space for the Accident and Emergency Department is a 39-bed area. That area this morning currently has 150 people in it. Wouldn't you be frustrated? And they have been complaining and complaining and complaining."

 

"The Cornwall Regional Hospital is a 300-bed facility. Since the hurricane, 140 beds would have been rendered unusable based on the damage to the infrastructure. The damage at Cornwall covers all the areas, so it's not like a one area was damaged and you can use another area. Everywhere got a little touch of damage in hurricane," she pointed out, adding that "we are not seeing the movements to put things in place to get the facility at a space where they can operate semi-functionally." 

 

The NAJ president, who was speaking with Radio Jamaica's Shemala Pullen, said she will be travelling to St. James next week to meet with the nurses.

 

During a media briefing on Friday morning, Nurses Association of Jamaica representative for St. James, Lattare Barker, declared that the situation facing patients seeking medical care at the hospital is dire.

 

"First of all, there is overcrowding. There are currently over 100 patients in the area and it's supposed to hold maybe about 35. Yes. And my nurses have to code patients, that is provide resuscitative care, on the floor. That is inhumane. And at this time, the nurses just cannot take anymore. We even have some rodent infestation," she explained.

 

Doctors at the hospital joined Friday's protest action at the Accident and Emergency Department, echoing concerns about overcrowding and unsafe working conditions at the main health facility serving western Jamaica.

 

President of the Jamaica Medical Doctors Association (JMDA), Dr. Renee Badroe, declared that Cornwall Regional Hospital cannot continue as is. She said the doctors are burnt out and stressed out.

 

Dr. Badroe said approximately 25 doctors are assigned to the department. She added that the A&E department, now temporarily housed in the former Mount Salem Health Centre due to ongoing construction work at CRH's main building, is operating far beyond capacity.

 

On Wednesday, Dr. Badroe said about 150 patients were being treated in a very small space, creating fire, health and occupational safety hazards.

 

Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton has admitted that there are a myriad of issues which have resulted in the unfavourable conditions at Cornwall Regional Hospital.

 

Dr. Tuften said Accident and Emergency Departments in parishes affected by Hurricane Melissa are experiencing space constraints, coupled with the influx of viral illness cases has placed a greater demand and services. 

 

He said there should be some relief for staff and patients at Cornwall Regional by next week.