Dedicated doctors, nurses and ancillary staff, and a high quality of professionals, work there. They substantially contribute to the welfare of this society while serving that institution.

Occasional confirmation of this comes in the form of letters to the Press or acknowledgement by callers to talk-radio. Even if those testimonials were not offered, it is certain that all could not be bad at the QEH.

While no individual or organisation is above criticism, we do ourselves a disservice by constantly complaining. Bellyaching alone will do little to achieve improvement. Any area in need of remedy cannot be unknown to those whose duty it is to apply corrective measures.

We repeat: stop knocking the hospital. It is the premier health institution in Barbados and arguably among the best in this region. Of course, not everything is perfect there. It never will be. It is manmade; staffed and controlled by fallible human beings. Therefore nobody doubts that problems will arise.

Some flaws may be attributed to personal shortcomings or, just as likely, to organisational error, but what should be borne in mind is the larger picture that this hospital serves the best interests of the people of Barbados.

Not the least of its virtues is that it is a teaching hospital, one that is owed a debt of gratitude for its great tradition of producing outstanding doctors.

The University of the West Indies (UWI) is accessible to most of our bright students who graduate from secondary level educational institutions. Many who emerge tops in their chosen areas of study go on either to training with the QEH or to other entities abroad. Many return to serve this country.

Out of such professional development Barbados continues to be served by an impressive body of medical consultants. Throughout the years these have all been very eminent men and women who work diligently to protect health and to save lives. It would be invidious to single out any, from so extensive a list of practitioners.

Because of its association with the UWI, those who reach the rank of professor are people who have attained high academic standards. Through their commitment to the advancement of knowledge in health care generally, many also publish authoritative medical texts in prominent medical journals worldwide.

Perhaps these facts are unknownto those who run down the QEH. Instead of acknowledging that numerous positives can rightly be credited to the quality of care and teaching associated with the Martindale's Road institution, they get carried away with all sorts of negative matters, whether substantiated or not.

Evidently part of the problem has its basis in politics. The general election is over. It is time to take the politics out of the hospital and let it progress. Let us stop the blame game.

The QEH is a health care institution that has for a full four decades achieved and maintained a highly commendable standard. There is reason to expect that it will build on its many successes under successive administrations.

At the same time, despite its scarce resources, Barbados has a National Health Service that is worthy of many developed countries. Our citizens that may be without medical insurance are not neglected

The system that operates here has so outstandingly served the population that it is both admired and envied far and wide. Just how comprehensive it is, can be easily seen at all levels, regardless of age, gender, or social background.

In those infrequent instances when the QEH is unable to perform a specialised operation, a patient can go to any of several places in this region or further afield, to have it performed at Government's expense.

It is an unfortunate feature of behaviour among many in our society, that they frequently tend to focus attention almost exclusively on the negative. Admittedly, there are several things in our country about which complaint can reasonably be made; for example, the cost of living, undisciplined youth, the challenge of drug abuse, unruly motorists – the lot.

But why should an institution, whose mandate and function are exclusively for the benefit of human life, be subjected to the relentless criticism that is aimed at it? For heaven's sake, leave the hospital alone!