Region Eight health services operate a robust evacuation system

Apr 05, 2011 Letters

Dear Editor,
Reference is made to the article captioned, “36-year-old businessman dies with Rambo knife in his back” (Kaieteur News, March 5, 2011). The contents carried in the said article, the Ministry of Health – Regional Health Services apprise you of the information as it regards to the matter.
The name of the patient is Rondell Semple and not Conrad Semple as was published by your newspaper.
On March 4, 2011 at approximately 05:55hrs the Regional Health Services Unit received a telephone call from Mahdia Hospital Region Eight, requesting an airplane to transport patient Rondell Semple age 32 with a history of stab wound to the abdomen. Air Services Ltd was immediately contacted and confirmed that they would make the flight available at 07:30hrs.
Unfortunately as a result of unfavourable weather patterns the flight had to be delayed until 13:10hrs when the plane departed Ogle Aerodrome for Mahdia. During this time the patient was being monitored at Mahdia Hospital while alternative arrangements were considered i.e. transporting the patient via road. However, due to the terrain and the nature of the injury and the time of travel it was deemed unfeasible to transport the patient in that manner.
The Ambulance Service of the Georgetown Public Hospital was contacted at 14:45h and promised to receive the patient who was schedule to arrive at 15:40h.
The aircraft departed Mahdia at 14:30h with the patient and an accompanying nurse for Ogle and arrived at 15:38hs. The Regional Health Services was reliably informed by the nurse that the patient expired at 15:30hrs, while on the way to Ogle Aerodrome.
The Ministry of Health – Regional Health Services strongly objects to claims made by your newspaper that the system is failing the populace. The Regional Health Services operates a robust Medical Evacuation System and is proud to boast that in the year 2010, 59 evacuations were done.
While we regret that we were unable to save Mr. Rondell Semple, we are adamant about saving lives as that is our mandate through the evacuation services offered. The Ministry of Health is committed to improving the quality of Health Care offered to the citizens especially those in the outlying regions.
R. Baldeo James Chief Medex (ag)