Farquharson

Kingston Public Hospital (KPH), the major referral health institution in Jamaica, is ready to deal with the anticipated increase in patients when user fees are abolished from all public health facilities tomorrow, according to Donald Farquharson, chief executive officer at the facility.

"I believe that we are prepared as we can be. We have designed an implementation plan with the support of most of team members at KPH and Victoria Jubilee Hospital," Farquharson told The Gleaner on Friday.

He added: "We feel comfortable as we can be. Hard to predict, but we have prepared for April 1 and on the day we will have a better understanding."

A&E critical

Farquharson said accident and emergency (A&E) is expected to be the most critical service area. To this end, he noted that additional tents and seating capacity would be put in place.

"We will introduce what we call an A&E manager to help to support the process. We will be communicating much more with our primary-care facilities and other facilities that refer patients to KPH," the CEO explained.

Farquharson said two doctors would be placed in accident and emergency to respond to and assess patients as they arrive.

He noted that most of the cases that come to A&E should be taken to primary facilities. "(As such) the doctors will ensure that those critical patients are seen before the less-critical patients. And those patients who we believe should be in primary care will be asked to access the care in primary care," said Farquharson.

Customer service reps

The KPH boss said some 12 customer service representatives would be deployed to interact with patients and refer the less-critically ill to health centres.

Farquharson also disclosed that his administration has increased pharmaceutical and medical supplies.

"If our patients can recognise that April 1 is not the D-Day, but come over time to access the service and do not flood the institution, we believe that we will be OK," said Farquharson.

petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com