Simpson Miller Staff members of the Kingston Public and Victoria Jubilee hospitals were on Wednesday commanded by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller to treat every patient with care and love despite their socio-economic background.
Speaking at the commissioning of diagnostic equipment to the hospitals, Prime Minister Simpson Miller said that, even if staff members are undergoing pressure owing to working conditions, this should not be reflected in their care.
"Particularly the poor, the despondent and the vulnerable among us, people must be treated with respect," Mrs. Simpson Miller said.
"Being under pressure doesn't give you the right to be rude - one kind word could erase a percentage of that pain."
'Show respect'
Health Minister Horace Dalley shared similar sentiments.
"Show respect to the patients who come here," Minister Dalley said. "When someone is sick and is seeing the attention of a doctor, one of the oldest physicians on earth, or a nurse, they want to hear comforting words," he said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Simpson Miller said that US$12.8 million would be spent to improve the delivery of radiology services in public hospitals across the island.
Upgrading project
This forms part of a massive two-year project to upgrade and expand radiology services and will include the purchase of 53 new pieces of equipment. A new 40-Slice CT scanner machine, four X-ray machines, two ultra-sound console units and one portable ultrasound unit were commissioned at the hospitals.
"With the new equipment in place the pressure will be relieved," Mrs. Simpson Miller said.
Eight of 12 new pieces of equipment have already been delivered under phase one of the programme at a cost of US$8.8 million.
A new MRI unit will also be delivered and installed within a few months, while an additional 23 pieces of new equipment will be provided in year two of the programme.
Previously, patients had to make arrangements for CT examinations to be done at private facilities and this posed severe difficulty for critically ill trauma patients.
The radiology upgrade programme at the hospitals is funded by the National Health Fund.
