Violence forces hospital to postpone elective surgeries

KINGSTON – The spate of violence in Kingston since Monday this week has put a strain on Kingston Public Hospital (KPH), forcing the nation’s largest health facility to postpone elective surgeries.

The hospital said that as early as 7 a.m. yesterday 18 of the 521 patients admitted on wards were suffering from gunshot wounds.

Pointing to the pressure violent crimes have been having on the hospital, a spokesman said that, between January and June, 433 people were treated by the facility for gunshot wounds, while another 138 who were shot and injured were pronounced dead on arrival.

The increase in trauma-related cases this week is related to shootings in the St Andrew South, Kingston East and Kingston Western police divisions.

At the same time, more than 1 000 patients have been treated for injuries they received in motor vehicle accidents, while 133 were treated for stab wounds at KPH this year.

But with only 475 beds, the hospital had to seek alternative measures to combat the challenges.

Senior medical officer at the hospital, Dr Natalie Whylie, told reporters yesterday that KPH had to change the way it functions since Tuesday as a result of the increase in trauma cases, mainly involving men who have been victims of violent crimes. The admittance of men, mainly for gunshot wounds, has caused significant overcrowding on the male surgical wards.

“For [Ward] Two North, where the majority of the male general surgical patients are housed, we have 44 patients there with a bed capacity of 38. For [Ward] Three East, which again is another area where our male surgical patients are housed, we have 41 patients with a bed capacity of 31,” Dr Whylie explained.

In addition, Dr Whylie said 12 patients were yesterday morning admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, which has only seven beds.

She said of the four main operating theatres in the hospital’s main operating suite, three were being used to deal with the existing surgical cases and one was reassigned to address the surgical emergencies expected to come in.

“If we have 475 beds and 521 patients, then our stretchers from the Accident and Emergency Unit have to be utilised as beds for some of our surgical cases,” the senior medical officer said.

The doctor also outlined the additional contingencies that have been put in place to deal with the challenges.

“We have partnered with our sister institution — the Victoria Jubilee Hospital — so they are going to be housing some of our surgical patients to relieve some of the overcrowding on our wards. The University Hospital also has provided us with some assistance. Yesterday (Wednesday) they facilitated the access of transfers from the peripheral hospitals and that will continue today. The University Hospital has also offered assistance with the surgical cases that we are not able to manage here,” she added.

Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton, who visited KPH yesterday, said the cost, time, equipment, and expertise associated with treating trauma cases have been significant and have placed strain on the hospital.

Tufton pointed out that a number of the cases could have been avoided if Jamaicans would do more to resolve differences without resorting to violence and take better care on the roads. These, he said, would minimise the need to seek treatment for trauma cases.

The minister said arrangements were already made with other hospitals in the Corporate Area to relieve the KPH.

“The staff, the administrators, and the doctors who are providing leadership have instructions to coordinate; that has started with the University Hospital of the West Indies to take some of those referrals. I understand and we will, if we need to, increase that. I spoke to the chief medical officer at the University Hospital a short while ago and they are prepared,” he said. He added that he will also be having discussion with St Joseph’s and National Chest hospitals to assist.

On Tuesday, 30-year-old cook Julio Daniels and his 34-year-old brother-in-law Fabian Atkinson were shot dead by a group of men who stormed their home on Francis Lane in Rose Town, Kingston, about 4:40 a.m. after kicking in the door.

A 14-year-old boy was shot in his hand and side, while a 12-year-old boy received a gunshot wound to his finger. Another man was also shot and injured in Hannah Town. All the injured had to be taken to KPH for treatment.

On Monday, 21-year-old Chevron Green was shot dead on Spanish Town Road in the vicinity of a gas station at Tavares Gardens — better known as Payne Land — at approximately 2:30 pm. It is reported that two other people were injured during the incident — one of them a 15-year-old boy.

On the heels of the Payne Land shooting, 32-year-old Joseph Kelly, also known as “Joe Bleach”; 20-year-old Nicholas Lindsey; and 17-year-old Daniqueca Graham were killed, while a 10-month-old baby was injured in Seiveright Gardens.

Police reported that shortly after 6 pm several people were standing on 25th Street, off Hill Avenue, when a Nissan motor car drove up and the occupants opened fire, hitting the four. They were taken to hospital where Kelly, Lindsey and Graham were pronounced dead.

Police believe the attack was an act of reprisal for a shooting incident earlier this year.

Another man was also killed in West Kingston Monday, bringing the day’s murder tally for Kingston and St Andrew to five.

Shortly after 8 Wednesday evening four people were also shot and injured in Waterhouse.

There was also a flare-up of violence in the Kingston East Division this week, but police could not say how many people were shot and injured in that section of the city. (Jamaica Observer)