MONTEGO BAY, St James — Motor vehicle crashes are now among the leading causes of surgical delays in St James while some types of cancers are also a factor, according to clinical coordinator for the Western Regional Health Authority Dr Delroy Fray.

Addressing a press conference held at S Hotel Montego Bay last Thursday, Dr Fray noted that while there has been a significant reduction in gunshot wound cases between August and September this year, in comparison to the same period last year, there has been a surge in road traffic crashes and cancer cases. He said this continues to place a strain on operating theatre schedules.

“Between August and September of 2024 I see [that] in those two months, 26 gunshot wounds came into [the] hospital. And at the same time, we had 213 motor vehicle accidents presented in our accident department. Compare that to 2025, August and September. We had seven gunshot wounds. And on the other side we had 285 motor vehicle accident [cases] presented there,” revealed Dr Fray.

“Now, those are statistics that you can’t run from. When you have a motor vehicle accident patient who comes into hospital and is admitted, you might have several long bone injuries, chest injury, head injury, abdominal injury that requires surgery, sometimes more than one surgery. So you know what happens? It pushes back the elective surgery that was set for that week or that month,” added Dr Fray.

“I feel it for the patients. They call me every day, they complain about it,” the clinical coordinator continued in response to a question from a journalist.

Dr Fray, an orthopaedic surgeon who specialises in treating the musculoskeletal system, is hoping for improvements in the system that will address the demand. Upon the completion of the Cornwall Regional Hospital rehabilitation project and construction of the Western Children and Adolescents Hospital, there will be a total of 14 operating theatres. Both hospitals are located on the same property in Mount Salem, St James.

“It is my plan to… work in a First World environment in surgery where you have a dedicated operating theatre for trauma cases on a daily basis — and that will allow you not to bounce the elective cases that come in,” stated Dr Fray.

“It’s a complex issue. So if you look at it superficially — and let’s face it, if you have a hernia and you’re being put off three times, you’re going to be upset,” he added.

The clinical coordinator is calling on the security forces to do more to assist in getting traffic cases down.

“What I would say to the security forces [is], ‘You have done a great job in decreasing gunshot wounds. Help me on the road so that we can minimise the motor vehicle accidents coming in there and free up operating time so we can do our elective procedures.’ That’s what we have to work on now very assiduously,” appealed Dr Fray.

Turning his attention to an uptick in certain types of cancer, the clinical coordinator noted that these patients must be treated with a sense of urgency.

“We are getting a flood now of breast cancers, colon cancer — and we see a rise now in rectal cancer and stomach cancer. We have to give those patients priority,” stated Dr Fray.

He also pointed out that breast cancer is being seen in younger women.

Dr Fray recalled when he he was an intern in 1985 breast cancer was seen in people in their late 40s and 50s. “Now, we are seeing them in [their] early 30s, you know, late 20s. I have a patient, [a] 29-year-old, with breast cancer… You have to give those patients priority. I can’t really apologise for that but I feel bad for those who have to be put off,” he said.

Dr Fray’s comments were supported by Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton who was at the press conference.

“Trauma is a big concern, of course, and as Dr Fray said, motor vehicle accidents are replacing crime, violence [in terms of trauma cases] and then, of course, motor vehicle crashes are also replacing the NCDs, uncontrolled NCDs like diabetes, hypertension, and so on,” noted Tufton.

FRAY… in August and September we had seven gunshot wounds compared to. 285 motor vehicle accident cases at the hospital