Opposition rejects explanation given for spike in neonatal deaths at VJH

Opposition spokesman on health, Dr Alfred Dawes, has rejected the South East Regional Health Authority's explanation that prematurity was the cause of increased neonatal deaths at Victoria Jubilee Hospital (VJH) in Kingston since June 1.

Following reports that 24 newborns have died at the hospital this month, the Authority, which oversees the hospital, said “data collection indicates that the majority of the affected babies were born prematurely with significant factors that could have predisposed to serious illness”.

In a media release on Friday morning, Dawes said the explanation was "unacceptable" as "prematurity is a medical condition not a cause of death".

Dawes said the deaths point to a deeper systemic failure in care for newborns.

"Victoria Jubilee continues to suffer from overcrowding, understaffing and outdated infrastructure. There is a chronic lack of essential resources including cooling blankets, ventilators and proper nutrition for neonates. These deficiencies, combined with inadequate staffing, compromise the hospital’s ability to manage high-risk pregnancies and provide life-saving neonatal care," he stated.

Dawes also said reports indicate 229 neonatal deaths at the hospital between October 2023 and June 2025.

He is urging the Minister of Health, Dr Christopher Tufton, to state whether these figures are accurate and release the full mortality data from 2020 to present.

"Jamaica’s maternal mortality rate is now higher than it was 30 years ago. Combined with a spike in neonatal deaths, this reflects a public health system in crisis," he said.

Dawes said Tufton must answer the following:

- How many neonatal deaths have occurred at VJH annually over the past five years?

- What has been done to improve outcomes?

-What budget was allocated to neonatal care?

-Was there a breakdown in infection control?

- Why was the public not informed sooner?

The South East Regional Health Authority has stated that there was no outbreak of infection at Victoria Jubilee, but that there had been a notable increase in admissions to the special-care nursery when compared to both previous months and the same period last year.

This increase reportedly brought with it a higher number of critically ill infants, many of whom were born prematurely or with low birth weight. The Authority added that it activated its surge plan and took all appropriate steps to care for the babies.

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