Adrian Frater, News Editor

A nurse at the Type Five Health Centre in Montego Bay, St James, explains aspects of the new health regime to a patient, yesterday. Other persons are seen crowding the door to one of the offices. - photo by Adrian Frater

Western Bureau:

Except for an above-normal turnout of persons at the Type Five Health Centre in Montego Bay, St James, yesterday's transition to Government's new health regime was a seamless process in western Jamaica.

When The Gleaner visited the Type Five Clinic in downtown Montego Bay yesterday morning, scores of persons were seen milling around the compound as health officials with bullhorns shouted out instructions, explaining the new procedures.

A large turnout

"We have had a large turnout of persons here at Type Five, so we have had to be spending a lot of time establishing order," said Clinton Pickering, the public relations officer for the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA).

"The services have not changed. It's just that people are no longer required to pay for the services they formerly paid for."

Dr Rao Ponnado, the medical officer of health for St James, who was among the health personnel at the congested Type Five Centre, said adequate preparations were made to facilitate the above-average turnout.

"The crowd we are seeing today is a manageable crowd because we were prepared for it," said Ponnado. "Unless we have a significant increase in the current numbers, all the persons here should be able to access medical service within three to four hours."

Business as usual

At the Cornwall Regional Hospital, the premier medical facility in western Jamaica, it was business as usual as, according to hospital officials, the number of patients remained consistent.

"What we are seeing here is typical of a normal day here at Cornwall Regional Hospital," noted Pickering, who is also spokesman for the hospital.

However, Marlene Binns, an elderly woman who claimed she had been sitting in the Accident and Emergency Department all morning, said she was not too excited about "free service."

"The service was not great when we were paying for it, so I hate to imagine what it will be like now that it is free," said Binns. "I have always maintained that you can't get good things for free."

adrian.frater@gleanerjm.com

Health-care diagnosis

CLARENDON

It was a smooth day at the May Pen Hospital.

When The Gleaner arrived there shortly after 9:00 a.m., it seemed like business as usual and not the rush many had anticipated.

The Gleaner team observed members of a group known as the Friends of the May Pen Hospital giving patients information on the new system and the procedures to be followed.

The hospital was the first of several health facilities visited by Minister of Health Ruddy Spencer yesterday. The minister commended the patients on their attitude. Spencer also informed them that services would be improved at clinics islandwide.

WESTMORELAND

The large contingent of police officers dispatched to the Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital yesterday morning had nothing to worry about as the anticipated crowd and probable confusion did not materialise.

However, the pharmacy at the hospital appeared to have a longer line than usual.

One official at the hospital said a number of persons seen in the line at the pharmacy did not see the doctor yesterday.

The official said it might have been the case that some persons held their prescriptions until yesterday to capitalise on free health-care policy.

PORTLAND

Parish Health Manager Bentley Steer told The Gleaner that the turnout of patients at the Port Antonio Hospital and health centres was normal.

He also explained that personnel at the Port Antonio Hospital were prepared to deal with any unusual incidents.

However, he admitted that there were some early-morning glitches.

"There were some minor glitches, as members of staff had to explain the new policies to patients regarding the transition of not collecting user fees, and to direct them to the various areas for them to access the various services," he said.

ST ELIZABETH

Checks with the Black River Hospital, the major health facility in St Elizabeth, revealed that the first day of the abolition of user fees went well for the most part and there was no major rush on the hospital or the public health centres across the parish.

Chief operating officer at the hospital, Diana Brown, said adequate measures were put in place to deal with all eventualities.

She also explained that there was no report of any unusual number of patient visits at the six health facilities in the parish.

MANCHESTER

At the Mandeville Regional Hospital and the Mandeville Comprehensive Clinic, an increased staff complement was in place, as well as tents and seating.

The 120-bed Percy Junor Hospital in Spaldings was also prepared.

Chief executive officer at the Percy Junor Hospital, Stanhope Scot, said although preparations had been made, the turnout of patients seemed to be normal.