Tirade for a vote of thanks

CONSULTANT OPHTHALMOLOGIST Dr. Albert Lue, turned a vote of thanks into a tirade at the official opening of the new ophthalmology theatre at the Kingston Public Hospital yesterday.

The speech left Health Minister John Junor, officials from the Ministry and the Kingston Public Hospital attending the opening flabbergasted.

After the function, a clearly upset Mr Junor refused to pose for photographs with Dr. Lue who also got the cold shoulder from hospital administrators.

In an impassioned speech, Dr. Lue agonised over the length of time it took to get the unit up and running, the severe shortage of staff and his frustration over the deteriorating sight of patients due to the snail pace of the Government.

"It took a long time to get the unit up and the things left to be done will probably take until Christmas," he said. "We need more staff. I don't know which of our masters to approach for that..."

While the theatre, refurbished for $7 million by the Jamaica Lottery Company Health Support Fund, is officially opened, "we're not able to use it now," Dr. Lue said.

"A vote of thanks was supposed to be a vote of thanks," fumed Shermaine Robotham, the Ministry's public relations officer. "Everybody knows that the Health Ministry has limited resources," she said.

Mr Junor, responding to the doctor's statements told The Gleaner that the theatre was functional and met the basic objectives identified by the Ministry.

"It may not have all the sophisticated equipment that is in other theatres overseas, but it is ready for use. We have as far as (possible) satisfied the limited objectives that we had for the ophthalmology theatre."

However, he added that the additional needs identified by Dr. Lue would be examined and dealt with.

Back to News