THE JAMAICA Workers Union (JWU) is expected to present a five-point proposal today, to Minister of Health, John Junor, outlining alternative measures aimed at keeping the Bellevue Hospital open.
President of the JWU, Clifton Brown, said yesterday that the proposal puts forward alternative ways of effecting savings at the mental institution and other measures in a bid to convince the minister not to close the hospital or short-change patient care in the effort to cut costs.
"We want to ensure that any changes take into account patient care and security of tenure for workers," said Mr. Brown, whose union represents some 300 Bellevue Hospital staff members, including psychiatric nursing aides, ward assistants, hospital attendants, cooks and a percentage of administrative staff.
The JWU is opposed to the closure of the hospital, which Minister Junor said recently, would be phased out as part of the effort to reform the health sector and mental health services.
A Mental Health strategy plan will see activities at Bellevue scaled down and the hospital will be closed within five years.
Health care and other workers at the hospital are reportedly in state of "uneasy calm" as they appeal to the ministry officials to change its plans.
Health Ministry officials have sought to assure employees there will be no job cuts explaining that the move was aimed at securing the best treatment for mentally ill persons."
In addition, Bellevue's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Yvonne Miller, also advised workers that a decision has been taken by health officials to establish a cross sectional committee of workers and management to oversee the Ministry's policy decision and to make recommendations to the Ministry on the implementation of the plan.
According to Ministry statistics, 1,272 or 55 per cent of patients were admitted and treated in general hospitals, recovered more quickly and had shorter stays in hospital, numbering less than 18 days.
Conversely, the Bellevue Hospital, which caters primarily to the needs of patients in Kingston and St. Andrew and St. Catherine, houses 45 per cent of patients with acute psychiatric episodes. The average length of stay was 30 days for males and 20 days for females.
