A medical professional attached to the Kingston Public Hospital, KPH, has raised concern about the effect the bloodletting across the nation continues to have on the country’s health services.
Consultant Anaesthetist at the KPH, Dr Ann Jackson-Gibson, says the treatment of numerous gunshot and stab wound victims has been stifling the hospital’s capacity to perform operations on other patients. She was addressing yesterday’s meeting of the Joint Select Committee of Parliament reviewing the Zones of Special Operations Act.
Dr Jackson-Gibson says the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) continues to be overwhelmed by the large volume of gunshot victims. She says for January to June 20 this year there have been 28 admissions to the hospital’s ICU for gunshot wounds. Dr Jackson-Gibson estimates that the KPH has spent close to $80 million so far to treat these emergency patients. She says this is money that could be used to treat persons in need of critical care such as cancer patients.
The bloodletting continued in Kingston and St. James last night with eleven persons shot by gunmen in three incidents. In Kingston, six persons were shot when gunmen opened fire inside the Coronation Market and later on Metcalfe Street.
RJR News was informed that at least two persons, including a male vendor at the Coronation Market, succumbed to their injuries at the Kingston Public Hospital. And over in St. James five persons were shot in Providence.
That attack took place about 8:45. Details were not available.
What a stress pon di hospitals dem.
DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND TURN THE GUN ON UNU DAMSELF.
They can speed up the process by letting air into the veins of the suspects.
What about the innocent victims of gun violence, the young child or old person. Air must go inna fi dem veins too. Unnuh too bitta