Health Minister Rudyard Spencer has joined the chorus of condemnation of the risky bed-sharing arrangement being practised on public maternity wards.

At the same time, as a possible solution to the bed-sharing problem that has persisted for years, the Ministry of Health is contemplating the use of the St Joseph's Hospital in eastern Kingston for maternity services.

"The ministry also plans to explore the possibility of utilising the St Joseph's Hospital for maternity services," read a section of a release. The ministry did not say how this plan, if approved, would impact on the initial projection to develop St Joseph's into a modern trauma centre.

Public address

Meanwhile, the minister remarked on the bed-sharing arrangement on public maternity wards during a meeting with senior officials from the Regional Health Authority and the Ministry of Health on Tuesday.

A release from the ministry said the meeting was staged to discuss and formulate immediate solutions "to tackle the problem of overcrowding at public maternal health facilities".

"Condemning the practice of patients sharing a single bed, the minister said the situation is to be given urgent priority and immediate strategies implemented to correct the problem that has persisted for many years," reads a section of the release.

The minister also ordered that the eastern wing on the fifth floor of the Victoria Jubilee Hospital be opened within the next six months in light of the fact that the 36-bed western wing that was opened in October 2008 is still unable to cope with the demand.

The ministry also said in the next few months work will be centred on improving the clinical care pathways such as early discharge policy and the undertaking of more efficient ward rounds.

tyrone.reid@gleanerjm.com

Medium-term measures will include:

The training of midwives for placement in public hospitals.

Public education programmes to encourage clients to utilise hospitals closest to their place of residence since some patients travel as far as from St Elizabeth to access service at Spanish Town Hospital.

Re-examination of home-delivery service.