NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Former Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis warned against waning confidence in Princess Margaret Hospital, stating that people may avoid seeking medical care until they’re near death.
Minnis, the Member of Parliament for Killarney, raised the issue in Parliament yesterday.
“My constituents are very concerned and have bombarded me with great regularity about the challenges they face at the Prince Margaret Hospital. In fact, they insist they are losing confidence in the Princess Margaret Hospital,” Minnis stated.
“I ask the minister to kindly look into this matter because it is the only facility for the poor man, and in many instances, they have no choice but to utilize it. We do not want them to lose confidence in such an institution, and you must do everything to reverse that. We have tried throughout my career and in previous ministers and governments to ensure that the confidence level in the institution remains.”
Minnis continued: “We must not allow the confidence level in the situation to fall. Once that occurs, individuals will not go to the hospital; they will stay home. The disease process would further deteriorate, and when they arrive at the hospital, they would arrive at a stage just before death.”
Dr Minnis said lauded the health professionals at PMH.
“Anytime I have a health problem, I go to PMH because I am very confident in the care of my colleagues, even though they are working under very stressful conditions.”
Health and Wellness Minister Dr. Michael Darville, in response, said that PMH is suffering from “age-old problems.”
The Ministry of Health and Wellness is doing all in its power to improve the infrastructural situation at PMH. I can say without any contradiction that significant work is being conducted at PMH. Seventy percent of A&E is under active renovation. During the renovation, we encountered problems because it is an old building with a lot of roof issues.”
Darville noted that the hospital is more than 70 years old, and much of the institution is crumbling.
“We are doing all in our power to ensure we keep the institution functioning as we commit to the Bahamian people to construct a new state-of-the-art facility in New Providence.”
