Dear editor:

While watching Television Jamaica‘s evening newscast, I saw the senior medical officer of health in charge of Savanna-la-Mar Hospital Dr Alfred Dawes bitterly complaining about the serious security risks which doctors and nurses have been, and still are ,facing from families of gunshot patients issuing threats that if their family member dies while receiving treatment they will take vicious action against the doctors and nurses treating the patient.

He also stated that hospital staff members are extremely concerned about their personal safety while on duty at the hospital due to the very loose security measures which exist at the medical facility. He publicly called on the authorities to establish a police post at the hospital to provide direct security and protection for all staff members.

Dr Dawes pointed out, too, that the hospital has seen an increasing number of gunshot victims since the start of the year, which is of much concern due to the limited amount of resources which are allocated to the hospital per budget year.

As a resident and politician of Westmoreland, I am using this medium to appeal to the National Security Minister Robert Montague to immediately ensure that a police post is established at the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital in the interest of security for all staff members at the facility because the situation is quite a serious one and we cannot allow things to get worse.

I myself have visited the hospital and can state without fear of contradiction that the hospital grounds are not secured. Why are the security guards not being provided with firearms from their security company to provide a better level of security at the hospital? Security bars should be installed on all the doors leading to the major treatment areas and the office of the senior medical officer, a hard-working, dedicated, loyal and professional man, should be duly secured.

Dr Dawes has been seeking to do a good job with the limited resources that he has at the hospital and I commend him on the outstanding work thus far. Since his appointment as SMO, he has made some positive changes at the emergency department, speeding up the rate at which cases are dealt with. Nurses are more disciplined and are performing better than before, while doctors under his leadership have been doing their best under trying circumstances. They, too, are to be congratulated and urged to keep up the excellent work.

The ministries of health and national security have a tremendous responsibility to ensure that doctors and nurses and other staff members of the hospital are protected at the facility. Over to you, ministers Tufton and Montague.

Frank L R Manborde, MBA

Chairman of the Little London and Paul Island Community Development Committee;

Grange Hill PO, Westmoreland

fmanborde@mail.com