SSP Diaries | An unhealthy experience

IN EARLY February this year, my friend Fred started experiencing symptoms of possible prostate problems. According to his wife Herma, he downplayed the events, insisting that it was a minor inflammation which would soon clear up. Herma, being the caring person she is, brought all her support mechanisms to bear and eventually we convinced him to see a doctor.

Three weeks later Fred, a born and bred country man like myself, found himself in the specialists office in Kingston where reality hit home. There was a problem, the doctor wanted to understand the magnitude so the correct medical actions could be taken. Thus began Fred’s intimate experience with the medical services offered at the University Hospital, a teaching institution. In providing support to Fred and Herma, my family also shared their experiences.

Following the doctors orders, Fred went to the hospital to see another specialist and have a series of tests done. He arrived there at approximately 6 p.m. on March 22. He was told that he would have to await the arrival of the specialist. There were some 20 other patients in the waiting area, for various health concerns. Assuming 20 minutes per patient when the doctor arrived, one did not see Fred getting through before midnight. On enquiring how soon the specialist could be expected, no one had any real idea, except to say that the person had been contacted! Furthermore, Fred was told that he could not leave the hospital.

That night, no one turned up to treat with Fred’s requirements. He slept in an uncomfortable chair in the hospital as no one sought to have him admitted in the interim.

ANGRY PATIENT

The goodly doctor turned up at approximately 10:00 the following morning, only to meet a very angry patient. He explained that no one had advised him that he had a patient at the hospital from the evening before! Well, good sense prevailed. It was pointless becoming more upset at that point as this would certainly cause more damage to one’s health than anything else. He got his first set of tests done and was told that he still had to remain in the hospital until the results were known. Despite requests being made, he was still not allocated a bed, nor officially admitted in the hospital. Food had to be carried to him throughout the day, failing which he would have starved to death in this healthcare facility.

Later that day Fred was told that he had to have a lumbar puncture done and another specialist would arrive to do the procedure. That didn’t happen until about 10:00 that night. Fred remained in hospital and together with Herma, took turns sleeping on a very narrow reclining chair, still in what can only be described as a waiting area as no bed had been provided. This became a sentence, confined to a hospital with no medication or other care administered, until test results are obtained. It didn’t make sense in the absence of an explanation.

On Friday, March 24, we collected Fred’s samples from the hospital and took them to the Andrews Memorial Hospital, where it’s understood all samples are examined. Being anxious about the experience of our friends at the University Hospital, his situation was explained with the hope of getting his results expedited. It was clearly articulated that they would try their best to provide the results by the following day, Saturday, seeing that they do not work on Sundays. Well, there was nothing more to be said at that point. Everything was out of our hands and now dependent upon the speed at which the medical services operate. We confined ourselves to providing food for Fred and Herma, who has been by his side throughout.

REALITY HITS HOME

We have all heard stories about the status of healthcare in our country but it’s not until you have personal experiences such as this one that the reality hits home. Fred and Herma are not begging the State for anything. They are paying upfront for all the charges, for treatment, due care and attention, raised and expected, in the circumstance, and yet this is how they are treated? Regardless of whether you can pay or not, this is no way in which to treat someone in need of care. Fred and Herma suffered again on Friday night, the doctor on that day, having done the tests, told them that he was then going to see that he was allocated a bed. That was the last they saw of him that day. They slept on the chair again.

I am hoping that by bringing things like this to the attention of the public that we will see some improvements in the healthcare of our own people. As it stands, one cannot blame others for seeking attention overseas, even for minor problems. Fred finally got a bed on Saturday, March 25, and was admitted to a ward later that evening. Up to Sunday morning on March 26, his test results remain outstanding and are not likely to be available before the next day. This experience can only be described as appalling and it’s something that I hope does not happen to another human being. Let us do better because we can.