ROSE HALL, St James — Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton has lauded the first batch of six nurses from the United States of America who recently participated in the ministry’s Code Care programme.

Noting that the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of working together, Tufton told the nurses at a dinner reception held in their honour Tuesday evening that with such exemplary work, they should consider themselves heroes.

COVID-19, he said, had shown the importance of collaboration.

“It was the greatest equaliser. So, if we use that principle to go forward, you will appreciate the importance of working together. And, this silo approach to health has to be abundant and so, what you are doing here is setting an example. So, consider yourself a national hero,” Tufton told the appreciative group.

Under the programme, the team of six nurses — two of whom are non-Jamaicans — performed some 18 surgeries alongside local doctors at the Noel Holmes Hospital, a type C facility in Hanover.

The minister later pointed out the importance of the initiative during his address to the function.

“We tell people every day that health care has to be a partnership, and we mustn’t be afraid of it. Indeed, when this programme started, there were many who doubted it and complained about different aspects of the concerns without focusing on the bigger picture of pain relief to those who are suffering. We pressed ahead and we are where we are today. And 164 Jamaicans are better off for it,” said Tufton.

Clinical coordinator for the Western Regional Health Authority Dr Delroy Fray, in his overview, said the Code Care initiative works and goes to show that with adequate staff, Jamaican medical staff can accomplish a lot.

“There were two nurses in the operating theatre, two in the recovery area, and let me tell you, it was like clockwork. As soon as one case was finished, the operating theatre was prepared for the next case and the nurses in the recovery area had the patients ready to move. We must have adequate staff in order to do this. I know our nurses can do this as well but we just don’t have enough. What we have seen here, we have seen where Code Care has moved to another level. The next level is where we invite professional nurses to assist us in giving us adequate hands to work with. And, I can tell you, the difference was great,” stated Dr Fray.

“Minister, I want to thank you, sir, for this initiative, and at the second stage I believe that if we can expand for a year or two, I don’t think that we will have a waiting time in this country and I look forward to seeing that for our people,” he added.

In response, the health minister said an assessment would be made to determine if there is a need to continue the programme.

“If there is a need to continue it beyond March, then we will give that some serious consideration because the objective is to get the work done and if we are doing it efficiently, then it is worth it and indeed, the pain and suffering that we can’t put a price tag on that,” stated Tufton.

Noting that it could cost up to $400,000 in the private sector for the various types of surgeries done under the Code Care programme, the minister argued that the country has saved up to 60 per cent in expenses.

Tufton said the cost of bringing the team from the states of Philadelphia, New York, Washington, and California to Jamaica and ensuring their comfort cost the country $169,400 each.

He said another set of nurses is expected on the island by mid-January.

Nurse Claudette Coleman, who spoke on behalf of the participants, said the group did not anticipate the reception and hospitality received from the ministry, the Western Regional Health Authority, and the Noel Holmes Hospital.

The hospital has two operating theatres, but the main one currently has been earmarked for rehabilitation for some time now. Coleman said the group was able to accomplish much with the resources at hand.

“We were amazed by what we had accomplished these past six days. With one operating theatre, minimal instruments and supplies, the patient safety and quality of care at the forefront, this is teamwork at its best,” she said.

“The theatre staff was very receptive to the exchange of knowledge and techniques which went both ways. We learned from them and they learned from us and it was awesome. The patients’ gratitude for getting that surgery they were waiting so long for was heartwarming,” added Coleman.

The Code Care initiative is aimed at clearing a backlog of elective surgeries by performing 2,000 over 12 months and reducing the wait time for these surgeries to less than 180 days.

This is being achieved through public-private partnerships; procurement of surgical equipment; nursing missions; project management and rehabilitation of operating theatres at some public hospitals.

Since the start of the programme in September, 164 surgeries that had to be pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic have been performed.

Among the other participating hospitals are Bustamante Hospital for Children, Hospiten, Montego Bay Medical, GWest, and Noel Holmes.