#SectoralDebate: Health Ministry working to improve patient care, waiting time
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Six hospitals and their closest health are being targeted for restructuring as the Ministry of Health works to improve patient care and waiting time.
Minister of Health, Dr Christopher Tufton made the disclosure a short while ago during his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives.Tufton disclosed that the average wait time for accident and emergency is approximately two hours, and for surgeries, one to 18 months. “I am prepared to say at times people die waiting”, he lamented.“We have to change this and where complacency exists, we have to reform and transform to achieve alertness, kindness and responsiveness”, he said, adding that long delays and at times the absence of compassion in how service is administered oftentimes give the impression that generally the system is unresponsive and worse uncaring.He said that his ministry has started the process of reducing wait time in the public health system and the focus will continue this year.The minister noted that six hospitals and their closest health centres will be targeted for restructuring.As part of the restructuring, the ministry has started a process to standardise patient flow to triage including computerisation of the process, improved physical facilities for waiting and triage and establish customer service areas to provide advocacy and support for patients, Tufton outlined.The six hospitals to be targeted are the Kingston Public Hospital, Bustamante Hospital for Children, Spanish Town, St Ann’s Bay, Cornwall Regional, Mandeville and May Pen Hospitals.Meanwhile, Tufton said the ministry will be publishing a document called Vitals, every quarter which will provide important data to the public, on the performance of the health sector.He said the publication of the document is necessary as too often conclusions are drawn based on inadequate or inaccurate information, adding that it was done in the interests of transparent and accountable governance.He however asserted that he fully respects the rights of stakeholders in the media and the Opposition or anywhere else, to probe and to seek clarification and answers, as this is an important part of democracy.Shanica Blair
