'Health system in northeast failing'

Dr Fenton Ferguson, opposition spokesman on health, is claiming that administrative and health-care issues in northeast hospitals could be a sign that the health system is failing.

It was just a week ago that Ferguson lashed the "carelessness" of the St Ann's Bay Hospital's accounting system that left $2 million sitting idly by in the facility's dormant account for more than nine years.

Health Minister Rudyard Spencer said last week that it was unacceptable to have $2 million sitting dormant, and an audit would be done to see if there were other accounts like that of the St Ann's Bay Hospital.

However, Ferguson claimed yesterday that investigations are hinting that the St Ann's Bay Hospital's dormant account "might have been the least among dormant accounts".

Spencer was unavailable for comment yesterday.

Ferguson called for the health minister to immediately review the management of the region, which includes the parishes of Portland, St Mary and St Ann.

The opposition spokesman also cited other examples of poor health care in the northeastern region.

"In recent times, the patients at the Annotto Bay, Port Maria and Port Antonio hospitals have been faced with food shortages and inappropriate meals, which have tremendous implications for patients with chronic diseases," Ferguson said in a release yesterday.

He also noted his concern about St Mary's lack of a public-sector pharmacist, and the overall region's ongoing issues with X-ray machines.