Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller yesterday ordered an investigation into the situation at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital (VJH), Kingston, following a damning report that the facility was contaminated with roaches and flies, among other things.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Health yesterday said the investigation panel established to probe happenings at the hospital will hold its first meeting on the weekend.

Situation rotten

On Thursday, Dr. Douglas McDonald, senior medical doctor at the VJH, described the situation at the facility as "rotten", pointing to the contamination of the operating theatres with roaches, flies, bird droppings, shortage of linen and nurses, among other things. The insect infestation has reportedly been addressed.

The Health Ministry says it will provide a full response next week to the damning report of the conditions at the largest maternity hospital in the English-speaking Caribbean.

When pressed about the conditions with regards to the roaches at the facility, Dr. Grace Allen-Young, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health, proceeded to ask this reporter if she did not have roaches at home, noting that the roach infestation was an environmental issue.