Est.2007

Barbados Underground

Bringing News and Opinions to the People

Minister David Estwick Declares War On Forces Undermining The Queen Elizabeth Hospital

← Back

Your message to the BLOGMASTER was sent

CONTACT THE BLOGMASTER ONLY

Minister Estwick
Winston collymore-CEO QEH
CEO Collymore

Minister David Estwick in his contribution to the 2008 budget debate cited several difficulties which he has encountered since assuming the post of Minister of Health in January 2008. Since the halcyon days when Senator Branford Taitt was Minister of Health, the QEH stock has been diminishing at a concerning rate for Barbadians. In 2008 the problems at the QEH appear to be complex and will take the cooperation of all the players to ensure that the healthcare dispensed from that institution is not compromised. Minister Estwick from the House of Assembly has sent a clear warning to the several factions at the QEH that enough is enough and he will be taking decisions in the interest of the PEOPLE of Barbados.

At the centre of his frustration appears to be two core issues:

  1. The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Board is being undermined
  2. Some Doctors at the QEH appear to be shortchanging the PEOPLE of Barbados by ‘moonlighting’ on the job. Consequently the core medical pool which is required to ensure an above adequate healthcare delivery is under threat. He cited the example of Consultant Brian Charles who appear to be a jack of all trades if we are to judge by the number of hats he is currently wearing. Then there is the matter of the Human Resource practitioner whose contract was terminated.

The Minister Estwick has sent a strong message in a way only he can, he will not be tolerating any behaviour which seeks to undermine the authority of the QEH Board – see media release below written by QEH Board Chairman

QEH 1

Discover more from Barbados Underground

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

113 responses to “Minister David Estwick Declares War On Forces Undermining The Queen Elizabeth Hospital”

  1. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    David
    If you review the comments made as far back as February on the posts associated with the link you posted you will see that the BU MOH presented to the nation his IMMEDIATE PLANS for the QEH emergency issue by suggesting how we could decentralize emegency care and try to involve the public sector in the deal. There is no war or cussing any one in the process.

    If we on BU can preseht reasonable plans to the people, where is the GOB that we elected?

    We can understand that the opposition cant comment on the above because they didnt have a clue in the 14 years they were in power.

  2. JC Avatar
    JC

    I really hope that they are listening to you GP. I really do!

  3. David Avatar
    David

    Not sure if BU family heard the news today but BAMP doctors have refused to meet with CEO Collymore. The crap continues!!!

  4. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    It is easy to see that once all these clinics (some as yet unbuilt, and perhaps a few others) are erected and functioning according to the specifications noted in my posts of February, that there would be no need for Bajans to be crowding up the QEH ER.

    It is easy to see how the patients of Private Physicians could benefit from the clinics in the respective catchment areas, and how it might be possible for them to even participate in their activities and services.

    It is obvious that in each catchment area there are other services that are needed- such as satellite ambulance stations. These might be close to Fire Stations or Police stations or Anglican Churches. Why? The wise first Bishop of Barbados had chapel of eases built in each parish close to the points of the compass for each parish. This is not a hard and fast rule here.

    Ideally each catchment area should have 2-3 ambulances for that catchment area. Such an ambulance will GENERALLY travel from station to pick up point and to the closest polyclinic only for triaging. Roving ambulances will travel to the polyclinic to pick up patients who need to be transported, so that the ambulance coverage of the catchment area should not be compromised at any time. .

    FYI & BTW I sent these ideas to the power that be in early January. I got no response.

    I am not very smart. I am not the exalted and elevated MOH. I am actually one of the least of the apostles. Don’t you think that if I could come up with these stupid ideas. That the more brilliant fellows could do better?

    Don’t you think that if the exalted and elevated MOH has made plans like this in his IMMEDIATE period in January, that six months later in what I would call the EARLY period, some of these things could have been implemented?

    For example the MP’s/Ministers/representatives/would be representatives for each catchment area should have held some fetes, done some begging from businesses to raise funds for ambulances for their region? And if they couldn’t get the latest top of the line appliance at least get vans and fit them with basic equipment. Could not more have been done as we advance to wards Jan 13 2009, when we would have reached LONG TERM? At which time we would start again IMMEDIATE LONG TERM, EARLY LONGTERM etc

  5. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    David Thanks for posting the Maps on the old post entitled What should Barbados Government Do About The St. John Polyclinic?
    Readers can read the post above along with the maps on that post.

  6. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    David
    If the doctors think the CEO is a twit, why should they waste time with him?

    I honestly dont blame them.

    When I was an intern there were two particularly stupid nursing sisters ; they were definitely not like the big maguffy ones whom you had to respect because of thier efficiency.

    When these sisters would come on my rounds I would totally ignore them. I would even address my comments and instructions to the student nurse on the round.

    Similarly the doctors are dealing with Collymore, so too do the elected GOB with my silly sugestions posted in BU, and so should the MOH do with any stupid senior civil servants.

  7. Tell me Why Avatar
    Tell me Why

    When these sisters would come on my rounds I would totally ignore them. I would even address my comments and instructions to the student nurse on the round.
    ……………………………………………………………………..
    Georgie Porgie, you have been making constant points that I was just reading and reading without commenting, but alas! that above statement cannot be overlooked. Although you might have issues with the sisters, you should still show maturity as a professional. How would you respond if the MOH visited the ward and overlooked you as a senior doctor and went to a trainee doctor for information? Professionals work as one once on the job, anything can happen after hours….no fighting please.

  8. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    TMY

    Actually I respected the sisters except these two morons. Man I wished you had met those particular sisters. They used to chat cha chat and chat BS!

    Also that was almost 30 years ago when I was a youth.I didn’t fight nor did I stay long enough to be a senior doctor. I am just an older washed up doctor now shooting hot air OK?

    The MOH is now overlooking my opinion, but you dont see me complaining. I am having fun on BU giving my ideas. But truly if the MOH were to go to a trainee doctor for information that would show that the MOH was not too smart- really! LOL And perhaps the youngster might have the answer. Some of the youngsters are indeed sharp.

  9. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    What I would like to see you guys do is improve on or modify my ideas or advance alternative ideas. That would add to my fun here.

  10. Tell me Why Avatar
    Tell me Why

    OK GP I understand. Anyway, I would like to ask two questions. Will the hospital ever be without problems? What difference will the present MOH make, especially the aggressive way he is known for and the fighting language directed to doctors?

  11. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    TMY
    Of course we will always have some problems at the hospital. We will always have slackers or folk who don’t understand their roles etc; folk who are in the wrong position etc Our goal is to reduce the problems to a reasonable level such that the delivery of healthcare is not compromised too much – irregardless to which political party is in power.

    I personally believe that the present MOH will not help himself if he continues to be aggressive and use fighting language directed to the doctors. As I have said before, if he continues so to do, he will sow to the wind and reap the whirlwind.

    I believe that the MOH can be successful as I have said along, if he can develop plans which demonstrate that he is on top of things. I believe that this will earn him respect even from the doctors. Then he will have an easy ride.

    Going on what I personally experienced in 1993, when I read the Minister’s statement about Brian Charles, I can tell you the ugly, envious bastard in the ministry who is leading the Minister astray on this score. Working in the prisons and the Defence Force is working for peanuts, and it is working for the State, in jobs that few care to do. The MOH has to be cautious of these jokers in the ministry. What moonlighting what?

    I don’t think that all is lost. Just as I can present what I think are useful ideas, I believe (and hope) that there others who are capable of giving other practical ideas.

    My attitude, as I have stated all along is to try to fix the issues related to the Emergency Room at QEH, and to expand Emergency coverage out to the periphery and continue working to improve this. This will renew confidence in the minds of the populace.

    Health care given to folk who can pay is OK.

    Once the MOH can get the emergency room issues to function properly, he can breathe a sigh of relief, and quietly get on to fixing the other issues at QEH and health in general gradually.

    The more he accomplishes, the more the general public will breathe a sigh of relief, and the PM will be one up on the opposition as far as health is concerned.

  12. MORE POWA FOOLISHNESS! Avatar
    MORE POWA FOOLISHNESS!

    Seen In todays’ NATION
    MINISTER OF HEALTH Dr David Estwick plans to launch a special forensic audit into the emergency ambulance service.
    “How can a building (the Tercentenary School of Nursing) which was renovated for World Cup to the tune of $2.5 million already be leaking so badly that the whole top floor was destroyed?” he asked.
    Estwick was speaking to the SATURDAY SUN yesterday after the Democratic Labour Party’s lunchtime lecture at George Street, Belleville, St Michael.
    The minister said problems with the building were present before the renovations were completed and the work signed off, which was why he wanted to find out exactly what went on.
    The building flooded on June 12 after developing leaks during heavy rainfall.
    About 80 workers moved in late last year after complaining about the poor physical conditions under which they were working at the now abandoned building at Enmore, Lower Collymore Rock. (CA)

    ==============================
    Certainly having renovated the Tercentenary School of Nursing to the tune of $2.5 last year, the roof ought not to be leaking so badly so that the top floor is destroyed.

    Certainly Estwick should launch a special forensic audit into this matter and also the emergency ambulance service.

    But should not a special forensic audit be launched into the matter of his non performamce since being appointed as MINISTER OF HEALTH ? Honestly!

  13. Interesting How Times Change Avatar
    Interesting How Times Change

    I came across this blog and wondered some 2 years later, how the characters had feared: Estwick/ Charles/ Collymore. Anyone with an update?

The blogmaster invites you to join and add value to the discussion.

Trending

Discover more from Barbados Underground

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading