DALLEY
Minister of Health Horace Dalley is expected to seek Cabinet's approval on the course of action he will take to address the death of a two-year-old ward of the state in May, at the Glenhope Place of Safety.
Minister Dalley told The Gleaner that he had received the findings and recommendations of the three-member review committee that was appointed to probe the circum-stances surrounding the death of the child.
Two-year-old Joel Wong died in hospital after ingesting medication that was not prescribed for him. According to reports, a child took the tablets from the tray of an attendant who was dispensing medication to sick children and gave them to seven others, telling them they were sweets. The children were hospitalised where Joel died and the others recovered before being released.
Dr. Colin Abel of the Bustamante Children's Hospital was appointed to head the Ministry of Health's Review Committee. The other two members of the committee are Flo O'Connor, former head of the Jamaica Council for Human Rights, and Gail Hudson, director of human resource management and Corpo-rate Services at the Ministry of Health.
While refusing to say what were the findings of the committee, Mr. Dalley told The Gleaner that he would make recommendations to Cabinet on the appropriate action to be taken.
Shortly after the incident, Minister Dalley told The Gleaner that there would be a "drastic shake-up" at the children's home after the probe was completed.
