THE EDITOR, Sir:
I AM deeply concerned about a news item late last week which suggested that there is a plan for the Bellevue Hospital to cease offering residential medical services and to substitute, therefore, outpatient services within the context of the community. My concern is against the background of an increasing awareness on my part of the vital role played by this institution.
I can remember an incident which we had on my work premises involving a deranged man who was at the time creating much havoc. We called the police who, to our dismay, came with guns drawn. Fortunately the man had disappeared. However, he reappeared later at which time we called the Bellevue Hospital. Within 10 minutes the van from Bellevue was here and in a jiffy had picked the chap up and taken him to the hospital. After some weeks he was released. He came by us but this time he was in his rightful mind! This plus other instances of where persons have been greatly helped by the institution have caused me to now have "nuff respect" for the institution.
I therefore want to ask the following questions:
Did the plan originate with the medical consultants or did it originate with the administrators?
Have we done a pilot project, the results of which suggest that our local situation is one which will benefit from the changes?
Who will be the community for those persons who have no "community"?
Whatever is done with Bellevue must be with the overriding aim of providing better quality service to the Jamaican populace as distinct from being a purely money-saving device. Let us tread with extreme caution.
I am, etc.,
S. RICHARDS
Kingston 10
