The Ministry of Health and Wellness is urgently appealing to family members, relatives, guardians and caregivers to collect their family member or loved one who has been medically cleared for discharge but remain in public hospitals.

In a press release, the ministry said these patients, many of whom no longer require acute medical care, are now classified as social cases.

According to Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Christopher Tufton, “Their continued stay in hospitals is placing additional pressure on an already constrained public health system and, in some instances, occupying critical hospital beds that are needed for persons who are acutely ill and require admission and medical treatment.

“Hospitals are designed primarily to provide acute medical care and are not intended to serve as long-term residential facilities for persons who no longer require hospital-based treatment,” Tufton continued. “We are therefore appealing to families and caregivers to work closely with hospital social workers, healthcare teams and the relevant authorities to make appropriate arrangements for their relatives or dependents who have been medically cleared for discharge.”

Among the public hospitals, Cornwall Regional has the highest number with 65 social cases; Savanna-la-Mar General has 26 social cases; Spanish Town Hospital has 21 social cases and May Pen and Kingston Public Hospitals with 19 and 18 social cases respectively, the ministry said.

The ministry said it also recognises that some social cases require more than family intervention and may need support from social service agencies and other stakeholders. Hospitals will continue to work with the relevant agencies to determine appropriate care arrangements for vulnerable patients, it said.

It noted that every occupied bed represents a potential delay for another patient who may be waiting in Accident and Emergency Department, requiring surgery, or needing admission for urgent medical attention.

“As our public health system continues to experience significant demand for hospital services, we ask the public to recognise the importance of ensuring that hospital beds remain available for those who genuinely need acute medical care. We thank the public for its cooperation and reiterate that the care and wellbeing of vulnerable Jamaicans is a shared responsibility,” the minister said.