MINISTER of Health Horace Dalley says the island’s hospitals are prepared to deal with any emergency on election day – August 27.

“All the hospitals are really on an increased alert in preparation for the national elections, mainly in accident and emergency,” Dalley told the Observer. “I think it is going to be a very peaceful election, but the doctors and nurses in the various health facilities are prepared for any eventualities.”

At the same time, Dalley said the health sector would not require additional staff to work on election day. “It is a day when everybody (who is scheduled) should be at work. We don’t need it (additional staff)…we have enough staff to manage all the hospitals and health centres on election day,” he said.

However, Dalley said should any emergencies occur on election day, the director of emergency medical services in the health ministry would be ready to deal with it.

“It means, therefore, that we always have a medical contingency plan to deal with the country in case of any emergency. For example, we have certain critical specific pharmaceutical, drugs and other sundries in stock to carry the country for at least two months,” Dalley said.

“In preparation for a national election, my chief medical officer and my medical team are usually conscious of the fact that you can have an increased load on some facilities, especially at Kingston Public Hospital and Cornwall Regional Hospital,” he added.

The KPH, he said, had been experiencing an increase in patient loads, but said it was not caused by the political violence. He said, too, that he would be discussing the possibility of opening a second of five operating theatres at the hospital on a 24-hour basis.

“We intended to do something. I intend to speak with Dr (Patrick) Bhoorasingh (senior medical officer at KPH) because I want another of the theatres to be opened 24 hours at KPH.

“I would like to make sure that we have another theatre open 24 hours and staff to complement it,” he said. “Other than that, all major hospitals usually prepare their A&E (accident and emergency unit) because there are motorcades, accidents and all sorts of things,” said the health minister.