A letter, purportedly penned by the President of the Medical and Dental Association Der Merle Clarke dated July 31st 2024, and leaked to Opposition operatives on August 3rd, listed a series of grievances with the quality of healthcare offered at the OKEU Hospital.

In this letter, Dr Clarke claims that the hospital lacks crucial equipment, medication, and services needed to conduct everyday operations.

The SLMDA strongly criticised the management of the Hospital for the use of its financial resources and urged the powers that be to prioritise the Hospital’s needs.

This letter follows a meeting between the Ministers of Cabinet and Senior Healthcare Officials on the status of operations at care islandwide.

Sources have revealed that the board of the Millennium Heights Medical Complex was summoned to a meeting with the Ministers of Cabinet yesterday, August 5.

In response to the letter from the SLMDA Prime Minister Pierre disclosed that a meeting will be convened with the Medical and Dental Association to discuss their concerns. This meeting is scheduled for August 6th, 2024.

“We understand and we empathise with them, and we're going to meet them.”

The Prime Minister also explained that prior to the call from the Association, he had met with Health Officials and the management of the OKEU and St Jude Hospitals to address healthcare shortcomings.

“The first issue was the emergency services at the hospital. I met with the officials, and we decided that we're going to immediately look for some more space for the emergency ward. That work is supposed to start early tomorrow. We're going to use the government's best efforts to alleviate the condition,” he said.

According to Pierre, some beds and other equipment have been purchased for the hospitals on-island.