Doctors upset with National Chest report

The Gleaner Power 106 News has learnt that a number of senior doctors are upset at the findings of a review on the National Chest Hospital in St Andrew which found among other things that there were widespread unethical practices by a consultant thoracic surgeon.



Health Minister Rudyard Spencer has since referred the file of Dr Dennis Pyne to the Attorney General for review.



Its understood that some consultants are calling for Medical Association of Jamaica president, Dr Rosemarie Wright-Pascoe and President of the Association of Government consultants, Dr Lambert Innis to step down.



The consultants are claiming that the findings of the report are unjust and unfair.



Dr Wright Pascoe and Dr Innis were among four doctors who sat on the seven member panel which reviewed the operations at the hospital.



A meeting of the senior doctors is scheduled for this evening at the Bustamante Hospital For Children where the concerns are to be discussed.



Among the findings of the seven member committee chaired by attorney at law Charles Piper was that there was a clear lack of leadership on the part of the South East regional Health Authority (SERHA) the parish manager, CEO and the senior medical officer in relation to the operations at the hospital.



Additionally the committee found that there was a failure to address complaints from patients according to Ministry of Health guidelines.



The committee further said a breakdown in the relationship between some of the medical staff was allowed.



It also found poor communication at all levels and public patients were being charged as private patients.



The committee submitted its report to the health minister Ruddy Spencer in November last year.