KINGSTON, Jamaica — Due to the inclement weather and reported flooding in most parishes, the Ministry of Health said it has been experiencing low staff turnout at hospitals and health centres across the island.

The MOH in a release said some facilities have also been affected by the rains, consequently, leading to disruption in some services.The following details the current situation at hospitals and health centres:

Health facilities structural issuesMay Pen Hospital and Kingston Public Hospital, KPH, (3 North) are affected by major leaks. All other hospitals have reported minor leaks. Flooding has been reported at the Spanish Town and Annotto Bay Accident and Emergency Departments, Noel Holmes Maternity Ward and some sections of the Port Antonio Hospital.Morant Bay Health Centre has reported major leaks. Most other health centers have reported minor leaks. Flooding has been reported Ocho Rios, Adelphi, Claremont and St Margarets Bay Health Centres.

Staff & patient censusLow turnout of staff at most clinics and hospitals. Most hospitals are at 80- 100 per cent capacity and report 50-75 per cent staff turnout.

Service delivery: Health CentresNorth East Regional Health Authority – NERHA- St Ann: Ocho Rios Health Centre is closed – patients are directed to Exchange Health Centre.All other health centres in St Ann are open with limited staff.- St Mary: All health centres are opened. Primary care patients from Port Maria Health Centre are being seen at the Port Maria Hospital.- Portland: All clinics are open except St Margarets Bay Heath Centre which is flooded.South East Regional Health Authority – SERHA- Kingston and St Andrew: All curative services are operational but have been hampered by limited staff. Pharmacy services are disrupted due to poor staff turnout.- St Thomas: All health centres are closed except Morant Bay – clients are being advised to use this facility.Southern Regional Health Authority – SRHA- St Elizabeth: five health centres are closed: Aberdeen (inaccessible), Springfield, Maggoty, Pepper and Lacovia. Patients are being directed to other clinics.- Clarendon: four of 32 health centres are opened and are offering services – May Pen, Chapelton, Raymond, Spalding Health Centres.Western Regional Health Authority – WRHA- Westmoreland: All health centres are open.- St James: All clinics operational except Adelphi Health Centre which is flooded.- Falmouth: All health centres are open.- Trelawny: All health centres are open.

Service delivery: HospitalsOutpatient Clinics are disrupted and suspended at some hospitals and patients are being discharged from the Kingston Public, May Pen and Linstead Hospitals.SERHABustamante Hospital for Children: Normal operations.National Chest Hospital: Normal operations.Kingston Public Hospital: Reduced staff in A&E; Only Emergency surgeries. Princess Margaret: Normal operations; limited staff.Linstead: 50 per cent of patients discharged; A&E operational.Spanish Town Hospital: Decreased staff; normal operations.NERHASt Ann’s Bay Hospital: Staff in support areas reduced. Lab not opened.LPrince Margaret Hospital: Normal operations.Annotto Bay Hospital: Normal operations.Port Antonio Hospital: Normal operations.SHRABlack River Hospital: Overcrowded; staff reduced.Mandeville Regional Hospital: Normal operations.May Pen Hospital: Very low staff; doctors are now doing double shifts as no relief.Percy Junor Hospital: Normal operations.Chapetlon Hopsital: Low staff turnout; Pharmacy services suspended.Lionel Town Hospital: Low staff turnout; Pharmacy Services suspended.WRHASav-La-Mar Hospital: Normal operations except for Orthopedic Clinic which has flooding in corridors.Falmouth Hospital: Affected by flooding on compound but services continue. Noel Holmes Hospital: Normal operations.Cornwall Regional Hospital: Normal operation.The Ministry of Health continues to monitor and assess the situation and will communicate updates when they become available. Members of the public can also access the Ministry by calling our toll free line: 1-888-CALL -MOH or 1-888-225-5664.