And it has given board chairman, Horace Cobham, until Friday to respond in writing or their representative, the Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners (BAMP), will "take such action as it deems necessary to effect change in the near future".

In a strongly worded Press statement yesterday, BAMP said it had lost "all confidence" in the ten-member board that took over the running of the island's premier health care institution in September 2005.

The unanimous decision was taken after a meeting last Monday, primarily with the QEH staff, during which it was noted that the board had "failed in its mandate to improve patient care within the institution".

Among the five reasons BAMP cited for the decision was the unavailability of basic material and equipment because of "the underlying and recurrent theme of outstanding debts to its suppliers".

"Contrary to the assurance of the Minister of Health that the QEH was currently capable of meeting its financial obligations on an ongoing basis, [it] owes suppliers several million dollars with some suppliers holding this debt for more than four months.

"The hospital's budget is stretched to the limit with payroll costs amounting to nearly $100 million of its $110 [million] total," BAMP charged.

Doctors also said they were aware that the board did not meet in May or June but only held ad-hoc meetings of its various sub-committees, contrary to what was said about regular meetings. It has not met with BAMP quarterly to discuss QEH issues despite the commitment given by the chairman.

Further, many vacant posts within the management structure have not been filled, and, apart from the two appointed positions of chief executive officer and director of nursing services, all other positions were acting roles, BAMP asserted.

"We can only surmise that this situation may be consequent to the financial constraints but recognise and draw attention to the overall impact of this deficit on the daily function of the hospital and patient care.

"The BAMP publicly expresses its concern for the inability of its members and other members of staff to provide optimal care to patients
at the QEH and to the public at large as a result of this situation, and cautions the QEH board of this dilemma."

Last year, the National Union of Public Workers also called for the board to resign charging that the situation had worsened, not improved, since September 2005. (DS)