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Barbados Association Of Medical Practitioners (BAMP) To Withhold Services To Barbadians – Strike Action To Escalate

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Dr. Carlos Chase, President of BAMP
Dr. Carlos Chase, President of BAMP

The Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners (BAMP) is a union which is feared in Barbados. It does not matter how rich or well-positioned socially, the fear of not having a doctor available to attend to an unexpected malady will strike fear in the hearts of most.  In this regard BAMP in the opinion of BU has exploited their position of influence through the years to the point where renaming the association the Barbados Association of Medical Untouchables maybe more appropriate.

The current impasse between BAMP and the QEH Board caused in the main by the non renewal of contracts of two long serving consultants is the latest in the woes of the sole public hospital, once a symbol of excellence in healthcare delivery in the region. The release of Head of Department of Radiology Dr. Rambarat based on media reports was because of inefficiency. Today’s press quotes Rambarat’s colleagues questioning non delivery of CT scans to facilitate the best healthcare delivery. It is interesting that the concerns about the lack of CT scans should come from Dr. Carlos Chase the head of BAMP and Dr. Harish Thani the head of Accident & Emergency (A&E) Department.

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The other consultant, the debonair and jet setting urologist Dr Jerry Emtage, yes he has a jet at his disposal  has contracted Ralph Thorne, the brother of Dr. Jerry Thorne to avoid the QEH hammer. So far he appears to have been successful.

Public Relations Officer Dr. Ermine Belle has reported this evening BAMP’s intension to ramp-up industrial action tomorrow by including the Polyclinics across the island in the strike action. In response CEO Dr. Dexter James has advised that the junior doctors will be on call to deliver medical care. Junior doctors are represented by the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) who appear to be not part of the strike action.

Whatever are the merits and demerits of the current dispute, here is what stinks in the opinion of BU. We have poor and ordinary Barbadians in a depressed economic climate who will be denied healthcare tomorrow, and for what? The sacking of the head of  Radiology who based on comments from his colleagues has been inefficient. Dr. Emtage what can we say. A multi-millionaire who feels driven to fight to hold his position as Consultant at the QEH. We want to know why?

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190 responses to “Barbados Association Of Medical Practitioners (BAMP) To Withhold Services To Barbadians – Strike Action To Escalate”

  1. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    David
    Note well
    This is what happened in my time. Perhaps it is still the case.

    There seemed to be a certain amount of time for the heavy guns to operate on thier patients, so their patients went on the list first- naturally. You get what you pay for!

    Often time because the Hospital had not procurred enough FULL TIME anaesthethic staff , the half day or part time staff would leave at 1 or 2 (which is more than half day.) Sometimes other things would cause cases to be cancelled for the day and postponed.
    Regardless to who the big guns operate on DOCTORS & MEDICAL STUDENTS LEARN FROM THIER APPEARNCES!

    DONT YOU THINLLTHAT ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES HERE IS LACK OF ANAESTHETHISTS STAFF?

    Come gain Davey Every time I will show you where provision has been lacking for the doctors to execute!
    I can tell you of one emminent surgeon, noe retired that cant be rich through surgery. I sent all of my polyclinic referrals to him whether publically or privately. If ythey could not pay for the operation THEY WENT ON THE LIST AS A PRIVATE PATIENT AT NO COST.

    So all doctors are not hungry ravenous dogs as you guys thinking.

    I want you to fire ALL the senior doctors and see what you will have!

    ONE OF THE ISSUES IN THIS STRIKE IS THAT CERTAIN DLP LACKEYS WHO DONT WANT TO WORK IN THE USA ANY MORE BECAUSE OBAMACARE DESTROYING THE DOCTORS INCOME…NOW WANT TO COME HOME!

    SO DOCTORS HAVE TO BE DISPLACED TO PLACE THEM.

    THEY NOT COMING BACK AS SENIOR JUNIOR DOCTORS OR AS UNIOR DOCTORS. THEY WANT PRIME SPOTS!

    This is part of the problem Davey/

    It seems that there are more PUBLIC PATIENTS THAN BEFORE TOO BECAUSE THE POPULACE CHOOSE TO BE PUBLIC PATIENTS

  2. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    That should be PRIVATE PATIENTS

    Since the middle 70’s when all the specialists became increaingly available, because of the expansion of UWI medical school THE BAJAN PUBLIC HAVE BEEN INCREASINKY RUSHING TO THE SPECIALISTS! So what do you expect thirty plus years later? MORE PRIVATE PATIENTS ON THE PRIVATE LIST THAN EVER BEFORE. But there is no increase in facilities or staff to handle the general public.

  3. David Avatar
    David

    It seems Doc GP is pulling out all the stops and has resorted to psychological warfare to help his side in the current QEH/BAMP impasse. Check this LINK out.

  4. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    Not at all David. Just having some fun, man.
    In slide 2 one can see that BAMP has reduced his “balls” to half their normal size.
    Slide 3 shows the normal histologu of the testis. It appears that the Chairman’s brain has lots of these cells too.
    Slide 4 shows what his testicular apparatus looks like now.
    Since his brains also had ectopic testicular tissue accounting for his “balls” and tendency to go BALL-istic . One expects that his “balls” cells in his brains now looks like those in slide 4.

    Slide 6 indicates that the major factor in hios debalsing is PROLONGED ADMINISTRATION OF ESTROGENS FROM ERMINE

    Her estrogens TOTALLY emasculated his balls by squeezing them down to half size.

    Slides 8 & 9 indicates that his brains might not be alltogether right either.

    AS THEY SAY A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS

  5. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    David
    Look again at the slides Sir
    I am mot in psychology or psychiatry
    I am interested in PATHOLOGY as clearly indicated.

    We were told that the Chairman has “balls” and “guts”. All I have done in five minutes or less is to show you how the pathology that resulted when the psychiatrist squeezed Hewitt’s balls and racked his pea sized brains!

  6. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    Ranting by doctor serve no purpose … Small island suffer at hand of academic clique for whom system work very well …! Whether B or D process continue and it seem doctor feel just cause for Pomposity … We in East respect greatly activity that earn US for country and look with scorn on citizen who enjoy process that hold whole population in visor, and use population as source of importance on world stage … No ball in such activity, no ball in doctor effort at disgrace of board … no ball at all …no? If doctor develop plan that be very very good thing for doctor very good at seeing end game … no? Where doctor fall down, very common in academic clique community, is doctor unableness at implement … no? Implementability take ball, real ball …no? Chastising from safe house far and away … no ball at tall …

  7. Me Avatar
    Me

    David, you seem far too eager to dismiss and condemn what doctors have to say in the absence of proper evidence.

    You said:

    “All of those who have had to have surgeries performed by doctors who have QEH consultancies know that as soon as you pay your money (to them) the date of surgery is quickly scheduled and surgery performed. The following statement is therefore bovine excrement:

    ‘Private vs. Public: The endorsement by the CEO of the QEH that the ratio of the private to public patients undergoing elective surgery is satisfactory refutes the charges that surgery on public patients is being unduly delayed by Consultants. There would be a difference in the waiting lists due to the fact that there are considerably more public patients than there arc private patients.’”

    David, why yuh gotta be so? What the doctor said (and GP explained) is completely true. The surgical consultants are given free operating theatre time for private patients in lieu of higher salaries. Private patients are far, far fewer in number than public patients. Private patients don’t suffer near the level of administrative mishaps that public patients do. Private patients pay for their own anaesthetists. Therefore private patients aren’t subject to the long delays that result from competition for public theatre time, administrative tangles, or shortage of public anaesthetists.

    What part of that is bovine excrement, David?

    From the very beginning of this post you have been exhibiting woeful, shameful bias against doctors. Don’t get me wrong, many doctors are a part of the problem, but they are seldom at the root of the problem— the root is usually a diseased system that allows wrongdoers to do their misdeeds.

    As long as you engage in this irresponsible kneejerk negativity towards doctors and this unwillingness to root out the facts before casting judgement, you— like the poorly performing doctors, and the non-functioning administrators— will be part of the problem as well.

    If you don’t like bovine excrement, stop typing it.

  8. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    Chinee man not understand overseas Dr. He not understand that doctor not ranting, Doctor mocking men who initially say that Chairman has balls and guts and will change system with bull in china shop approach . Doctor predicted that such a ploy would not work.

    Now overseas Doctor explain what happened to Chairman with so much balls and guts. Doctor give pictures to explain how psychiatrist & BAMP squeeze chairman with balls to half size.

    Doctor show that ranting by BU posters and populace serve no purpose since BAMP will most likely continue to squeeze balls till they get proper contracts. irrational posters not firing all doctors today…notice? They have egg on face cause they jump gun and to conclusions.

    Small island not suffer at hand of academic clique for whom system work very well … Small island suffer at hand of leaders in B or D who have no plans or will or wisdom to solve problem, and who only hire dummies in their party who not know how to fix problem but only know to drink from through.

    Doctor have all right to laugh at process because men support man with guts and balls with no brain . Doctor have all right to laugh at process because guvment continue to hire men who can not do job for which they are hired but want to fire doctors who do their work so that they can bring party lackey.

    Population held in visor because population is led by men who be square pegs in round holes who be dumb and only have guts and balls. Chastising from safe house far and away velly necessary to show people that Dems not know what they doing or Bees either. Doctor has right to chastise from safe house far and away. He has right to his opinion as every buddy else. No?

    Board disgrace themselves by stupid acts, doctor not disgrace board. Doctor laugh at dumb board led by priest to run horsepital on part time basis. Doctor laugh cause it velley velley hilarious.

    Anytime doctor given chance to implement doctor can implement.

  9. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    GP I just get hey. Rememba our company policy. Do not give free information that can be used by Health care planners in Barbados.

    Your freeness will continue to be regurgitated as their own or the expatriate they appoint.
    We still have to find two( rhymes with rite) fellas to be our front men.

    On a serious note, it is unfortunate that we Bajans cannot give respect where it is due and work together without all the hostillity.

    I learned a lot from my late mother who died before she was 60. She used to go and wait at the QEH sometimes a whole day because we could not always afford a private doctor. She never complained because there were others in the queue like her .

    Think on that.

  10. Me Avatar
    Me

    David, any response to GP?

    You said that the doctors’ claims were bovine excrement; the statement has been explained to you by GP.

    I can vouch for its accuracy. Public patients get their procedures cancelled because of the structure of the system— a system that terribly frustrates the doctors who work within it. I certainly couldn’t have worked in surgery at QEH, it would have sent me round the bend.

    Seriously, though, David, I’ve admired your work before, and I would love if you could expose some of the actual misdeeds of problematic doctors in the system, but you’d really do much better if you reined in that nasty anti-doctor bias and established facts before throwing accusations.

    Basically the current system allows consultants set quantities of free operating time for their private patients, in lieu of higher wages. This operating time is not affected by the usual QEH messes and snafus, because it is essentially administered by the doctors themselves.

    So in effect the efficiency of private operating procedures is ongoing silent testimony as to how well the system could be running if the doctors were actually running it!

    But instead, the ignorant and the irresponsible couch it as evidence of misdeed.

    If the administrators wanted the system changed, they just have to negotiate higher wages with the consultants, and end the perk of free operating time. The consultants would just do all their procedures at Bayview. But Hospital Management doesn’t want to do that, because they don’t actually want to pay the consultants any more money.

    So they scapegoat others for the failures of the system, and the ignorant and incompetent fall for it, seemingly every time!

  11. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    GP says:
    “Anytime doctor given chance to implement doctor can implement.”
    ************************************************************
    Based on your history GP, ‘anytime doctor meet challenge doctor pack up and run away – except when for new found blogging action….LOL

    BTW
    Generally, one is not GIVEN a chance to implement, one GRABS the opportunity, often against great odds, and with wise vision and bravery, MAKES it happen….. but then again here you are 20 years later crying over spilt milk because someone did not immediately endorse some idea you had about polyclinics and health….

    Stick with the blogging and stay in Miami where you can remain safe, well hidden, and can bully your poor students into worshiping you… while cussing and insulting seed picking bloggers.

    @ David
    The Bushman was busy (tending the $millions LOL), but could not help but reflect how many of our highly educated doctors seem to have developed a super inflated vision of their own importance and status. Somewhat like politicians who take an oath to serve -especially the weak, sick and defenseless, – only to spend their time stroking and defending their own egos.

    Back to an old Bush Tea issue.
    Have you noticed how ironic it is that a body of such highly schooled, highly paid, medical academics have quickly resorted to strike action? Is strike action not the kind of early resort one would expect from sanitation workers, plantation workers, seed-picking bushmen and other lower paid workers who may be expected to lack the ability to properly articulate their issues?
    One would have thought that BAMP would have been able to easily win this battle on the strength of pubic relations and intellectual content.
    Having said that, The Chairman also seems to have lost his head and made aggressive public statements that are uncalled for…BT continue to blame UWI.

    Man even BARVEN and the ZR people have been mounting intelligent sounding intellectual positions of late to represent their interest.

    ….but should we be surprised??
    Not if the GP that we have come to know is any indication of the mindset of these scholars.
    >When someone failed to do his wise Poly Clinic bidding. he get vex and gone to Miami….(on strike)
    >Disagree with anything that he says and he will launch into a tirade or disappear for weeks…. and come back real acid

    Whaloss!! BAMP like dum is just an organizational version of GP yuh. LOL.

  12. Another Doctor Avatar
    Another Doctor

    @David,

    I’ve read the piece by Commissiong, and I agree that it’s excellent.

    In your eagerness to defend your blog, you seem to have misunderstood me. I do not claim that public ignorance is *all* your fault, and clearly the ignorance that precedes your existence is nothing to do with you.

    I do stand firmly by my statement, though, that ill-researched, hasty accusations such as those that you made in the initial post and repeated later on, contribute to the state of national misconception on this issue. I read this blog because I do think that you mean well. 

    If you mean well, you shouldn’t create posts like the first. It plays into people’s fears without informing, and does nothing to inform— since most people will not read all the comments to see where your claims have been debunked.

    Biased nonsense claims are why I don’t read BFP. Please don’t follow them down that road.

  13. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    Me
    Thanks for your two erudite explanations of the situation.
    You may be new to BU. But understasnd that generally, posters totally disobey Jesus’s edict in John 7:24, which states JUDGE RIGHTEOUS JUDGEMENT & NOT BY THE APPEARANCE.

    Commonly interpreted from its context YOU CAN NOT ADJUDICATE WITHOUT ALL THE FACTS.

    Folk here are NOT really interested in TRUTH either. Most are just engaging in Bajan rum shop behavior, where facts, logic, substance is not necessarily a high priority.

    Hants, I am taking your suggestion very seriously The hurtfull thing is that even in this time of recession all the polyclinics could have been adequately outfitted at a very low cost.

    Your very high level of tolerance seems to have been inherited or/and aquired from your mother. I hope that she is resting in Paradise, and will soon appear at the glassy sea with the four and twenty elders, where the singing will be grandiose!

  14. David Avatar
    David

    Truth be told BU finds it strange this on again off again strike action. Aren’t you reminded of when playing cricket in the village and unless you get to bat when you wanted you would pick up your ball or bat and finish everything? GP despite all you have said BAMP is yet to strike and the Chairman is still in the chair. There is more to this issue than meets the eye.

    Seriously though, most private sector companies despite having trained HR practitioners resort to hiring HR consultants to beef up the negotiating skills required for resolution at the table. It is ridiculous to have people on the Board and BAMP who are not trained negotiators being asked to trash out this mess. There is too much at stake to send these unskilled people to the table. Some should not even be on the QEH Board. Going forward BU wants to recommend that 1 or 2 HR Consultants be part of the talks and in fact are retained on an all year round basis to grease dialogue between the several factions, ooops stakeholders at the QEH,

    Yes BU has been hard on the doctors because they deserve it. Me, feel free to bring the other side of the argument as you see it. It is the only way to feed the public with information. Until you do we will continue to believe that the doctors are the Untouchables.

  15. Me Avatar
    Me

    Actually, senior doctors and BAMP do work consistently behind the scenes. I have my own concerns that they don’t necessarily work to the best interest of junior doctors, but they do try to improve patient care.

    I’m not sure if this really needs to be explained, but medical degrees don’t imply skill in negotiation or PR; there are legal and ethical issues involved with doctors blabbing to the newspapers about the difficulties of medical care; and all the intelligence and best will in the world can’t overcome administration who are fundamentally determined to take you down a peg.

    Again, I am a junior doctor. I have my own issues with QEH consultants and with BAMP. But the idea that BAMP jumped suddenly to strike without prior negotiation is absurd.

  16. David Avatar
    David

    @Another Doctor

    There is a link at the top of the page labelled ‘Send Confidential Message’ use it to offer the BU family another view. So far BAMP has done a lousy job apprising the public of the challenges at QEH on an ongoing basis.

  17. Me Avatar
    Me

    I dunno, David, you’re talking bullshit. You have repeatedly made statements with regard to the doctors that are either unfounded or false. I appreciate that you have your reasons, but at some point you as a reasonable man should be able to say “Maybe I have to rethink this”.

    It’s not true that surgery delays are the doctors’ fault. It’s not true that the doctors are untouchable. I don’t even think it’s that the strike was on & off— that was a media mistake based on the state of acrimony at the end of the last meeting.

    Going through your statements about doctors is a minefield of error and half-truth. I have deep issues with the institutions involved, but you are missing the mark.

    This is not a defense of the doctors as such— this is me imploring you to get your damned criticisms right!

    It isn’t true that BAMP has exploited power through the years. In fact, BAMP has been so toothless that doctors left in droves!

    It’s not true that BAMP took action to protect a millionaire’s job. In fact, BAMP was only asking that the hospital follow proper procedure in firing him! Neither of the targeted doctors is popular, and had QEH followed the proper procedure, no-one would have even waved goodbye as they departed.

    So it’s not a matter of whether anyone “deserves” criticism. It’s a matter of you not repeating emotionalistic twaddle. You can do better, so start.

  18. David Avatar
    David

    @Me

    You need to forgive BU because we have not been fortunate to have meeting minutes given to us, until we (public) get the information we will go with what we know. Remember where there is a void crap will usually fill it. It explains why the public has been anti-BAMP in recent days. You guys know the facts* but until the man in the collar went public Dr. Carlos Chase was loathed to talk to the media (appreciate the ethical issues). Hewitt smoked him out that much is evident.

  19. Me Avatar
    Me

    Doctors are trained from the get-go to be discreet. Keep people’s secrets. Don’t rat on the consultant, he will get back at you. Don’t go to hospital management, they prefer to deal with consultants. Don’t go to the newspapers, it’s against the law for doctors to do so. (Don’t know if it’s true, but that’s what we’re told.)

    And when you’re working 80+ hours a week, who has the time to be playing amateur journalist for people who are obviously biased against them? Most junior doctors just want to get through the day without making enemies or committing malpractice.

    Calling most QEH junior doctors a privileged class is painfully wrong. QEH junior doctors are servants at the bottom of a pyramid, hoping to eventually reach the top; exhausted, depressed, and often hopeless. They don’t even make as much money as their fellow lawyer/ accountant professionals who work half as many hours!

    The fact that they don’t have the writing skills to put exposé articles in your hand and do your work for you is no excuse for spouting derogatory untruths, David. Man up, and stop.

  20. Me Avatar
    Me

    I am quite happy to forgive BU, David. Not a problem. I know you guys try to do good work here…

  21. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    Me
    You be person voting in survey on repeat … no?

    By and way you say “Hospital Management doesn’t .. actually want to pay the consultants any more money.” My atheist god, citizen, small island not have problem with supply of cash? Maybe small island better if consultants work in North and remit fund to family at home, rather than get cashy at home only to convert to US and spend in North … no? Negotiate higher wages … ? With what … big rock?

    Dr Bovine

    Yes incompetent Government, incompetent policy, incompetent board, incompetent priest, incompetent party so maybe they all leave too and go to North … no? But when you study, you must see incompetent school, incompetent Central Bank, incompetent Social Security, incompetent union, incompetent commerce chamber, incompetent bank, incompetent media house, incompetent blog … Maybe they leave and go to North too … no? Now you have company and maybe you come home and show competence … no? We have doctor run everything …

  22. David Avatar
    David

    @Me

    Can you list the names of the BAMP Executive? The list on the BAMP website is 2008-2009.

    Are the members of BAMP Executive comprised in the main of junior or senior doctors? Just curious.

  23. Me Avatar
    Me

    I think part of the issue with BAMP is that BAMP really doesn’t have anyone skilled in PR. The PR officer is a busy senior clinician elected to the position because she was willing to work hard, not for any particular PR skill.

    Really, doctors tend not to care about PR. They foolishly tend to think that people will recognise that between doctors and administrators, that clearly doctors are the ones with their asses on the line every day, so people will at least remember that the “other side” might not be offering pure Gospel Truth.

    Book sense ain’ common sense.

    And as GP said, doctors don’t really strike often. The memories fade, and we assume we’ll have more support than we have.

    Note the bitter tone that Another Doctor resorted to after dealing with bitter, angry patients— with the anger directed to the doctor who was actually working! Not really logical, but there you are.

  24. Me Avatar
    Me

    @BAFBFP

    I guess my point is that it’s hypocritical and dishonest to offer people tomatoes instead of money as payment because you’re broke, and then accuse them of stealing your tomatoes when they accept your offer.

    If we’re going to offer consultants perks in lieu of higher salaries— and I’m not sure we should— we need to stop acting like they’re unethical monsters when they accept the perks offered.

    Make sense?

  25. David Avatar
    David

    @Me

    Here is some advice, at the next BAMP general meeting discuss how BAMP can communicate better with the public. If in the profession the skill set does not exist buying the skill should not be a problem.

  26. Me Avatar
    Me

    BAMP Executive

    (all doctors)
    President – Carlos Chase
    1st VP – Areti Kumar
    2nd VP – John Gill
    Gen Sec – Gregory Walton
    Asst Gen Sec – Abdon DaSilva
    Treasurer – Haresh Thani
    Asst Treasurer – Brian MacLachlan
    PR Officer – Ermine Belle
    Floor Members:
    – Henry Fraser
    – Michael Brown
    – George Nicholson
    – Ingrid Durrant

  27. Me Avatar
    Me

    @David

    I ain’ sayin’ nuffin’. Me give that advice to those fogies? And have them think that I arrogant and think I know better than them?

    No bosie I too young and junior. Maybe when I like GP and got my job overseas already set out.

  28. Me Avatar
    Me

    No junior QEH doctors on the executive AFAIK.

  29. ac Avatar
    ac

    It is evident that from reading the various comments pro and con each side has made up their mind and has taken the attitude “dont confuse me with the facts”. However when all is said and done the patients are the loosers. Hopefully in the final analaysis The QEH would become a better hospital .People earing their grieviences is a good thing so that the public can get a better glimpse as to how certain aspects affect their lives negatively or positively in the medical arena. Generally after a storm what was destroyed becomes new.

  30. David Avatar
    David

    @Me

    Appreciate your feedback. The problem as we see it is the need for more information to leak into the public domain. Public sentiment can be a force. The QEH with all the factions is a hotbed of issues, the nurses, junior doctors, consultants, general workers, technicians, BAMP, NUPW etc. Who will show leadership? It seems the doctors given the years training and investment in education have a lot on the line. Time to step up!

  31. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    Methinks that Me is pushing a good thing a bit too far.

    No one (certainly not the Bush Man whose personal doctor is beyond reproach) is saying that doctors are bad people. The issue is that we seem to have developed a SYSTEM where the focus has become ‘money and ego’ as opposed to patient care and comfort.

    Even Me in his reasonable contributions, continue to infer solutions of ‘paying consultants more money’ if we want things to work, and about how junior doctors work for ‘less than lawyers and accountants’. (first thing – lawyers don’t actually WORK….LOL)

    We foolish citizens always thought that students choosing medicine as a career KNEW that it was hard, draining work. We foolishly thought that money was not the DRIVING reason for joining this profession… but helping those in need.

    If the Board (what ever their limitations) are to take their role seriously of reforming the system so that poor people can get their operations more promptly; and if we DO NOT HAVE the money to pay consultants as they may expect (so wanna say) in the rich countries; and if we still wish to improve service to our citizens……

    Can ME explain how such an impasse can be addressed short of bowing down to kiss the mighty consultants behinds?
    If the Board is NOT to deal with (undisputed) non performers, what is Me saying – we must either print the money needed or accept the non performance?

    With respect to the blog, all bloggers are asking is that if BAMP feels the need to jeopardize the very health and even life of citizens, then AT THE VERY LEAST tell us why we are asked to suffer so….

    ….tell us – so that if indeed the problem is the Board -we can cuss them instead. If the minister – likewise….etc.
    But to say NOTHING to the public, and then put my mother’s life on the line – who in their right mind could expect anything but condemnation?

    Me should have been selected as BAMP’s PRO, they would be in a much improved position….

  32. Me Avatar
    Me

    @David

    Unreasonable expectation. Step up HOW? The system has been deliberately engineered over the past few years to give the doctors less power, because of sentiments (like those you expressed) that the doctors are untouchable.

    The current deliberate administrative is to make sure that the doctors CANNOT “step up”.

    Cut off a man foot and then cuss he for not running?

  33. David Avatar
    David

    @ME & Another Doctor

    BTW there is the impression being given that BAMP is representing mainly junior doctors. Is this correct?

  34. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    Public relation like plaster over sore … no? No point in PR anyway, not even Patrick Gollop (ha ha) … for all skill on island incompetent … except doctor skill … no? Henry Fraser big mout doctor … no? very very big mout doctor … Maybe Great White do job … I view backlash from public on plane to China … no?

  35. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    No no ac;
    This not fight for decent young virgin filly, this fight for Ball stomper… no?

  36. Me Avatar
    Me

    @Bush Tea

    You misdiagnose the system. The problem is not a focus on “money and power” for most doctors. It is this misconception that I’ve been trying to refute. The public system is money-starved, and deliberately structured to deny doctors power.

    The problem is an adversarial bureaucratic system that renders good performance either irrelevant or impossible much of the time.

    People spend too much time resenting other people’s money. If a doctor is focussed on doing good work, I don’t care if they also want to make money. I have been trying to clarify that doctors don’t make as much money as people think, compared to some others who study for similar periods but work much shorter hours.

    You misrepresent me. I did NOT infer a “solution” of paying consultants more money. What I said was that SINCE the current system offers perks in lieu of higher pay, that it’s hypocritical to accuse senior staff of misconduct when they take the perks formally offered by their contracts, particularly when we fail to similarly criticise those who offered the contracts in question.

    Money is the driving reason for many professionals studying. I don’t really approve of that, but facts are facts. That doesn’t have to stand in the way of those professionals doing good work.

    If the board wants to attract and retain good doctors, the best way of doing so is neither more money nor more perks, but job autonomy and job satisfaction. Money and perks are merely stop-gap temporary sub-optimal patchwork semi-solutions in the context of consistent refusal to offer job autonomy, and failure to offer job satisfaction.

    I heartily agree that BAMP should have made their position more clear, and I will stand in unity with anyone who makes that criticism. However, that doesn’t make unfounded, sensationalist accusations any less inappropriate. If we aren’t being provided with appropriate information, we should demand info loudly, not make stories up out of thin air.

  37. Me Avatar
    Me

    @David,

    BAMP represents most senior doctors and some junior doctors.

    NUPW represents many junior doctors. I don’t think many (if any) senior doctors have joined NUPW.

  38. David Avatar
    David

    @David,

    BAMP represents most senior doctors and some junior doctors.

    NUPW represents many junior doctors. I don’t think many (if any) senior doctors have joined NUPW.

    Interesting the above.

    BU took a provocative position and honestly don’t regret it. It was the only way to crack this nut. Look at the information on this blog which is gushing forth? At least BU did not accuse the docs of mafia moves…lol. There is nothing like a collar!

  39. David Avatar
    David

    @Me

    Bring it home now, where are we in the negotiations? Are you guys close or at resolution? What is the sentiment amongst your colleagues?

  40. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    David
    The Doctors speak in English not Latin.
    If Rev Balls cant understand what he was told it is not the doctors fault.
    I am sure he understands now that he can not stamp over the doctors. Because they have only gone on stike twice in 31 years does not mean that they cant. They have the power to run Rev Balls ragged, and they will if he does not REPENT! LOL.

  41. Me Avatar
    Me

    LOL

    No new info on the negotiation. I probably wouldn’t tell if I knew, but I honestly don’t know.

    ADVICE: You’d get far more info, and from people more connected than I, if you maintained a personal stance of integrity and interest in the facts. I’m more verbally outspoken than most. The kinds of positions you take utterly drive away most of your potential sources of info on this issue. Doctors don’t speak out more because there seem to be no impartial ears.

    The “Mafia moves” comment was a symptom of a larger problem. It was crazy to make that kind of adversarial comment in the middle of negotiations. But then the firings themselves didn’t make sense to me. I can only guess they thought that the doctors in question were so unpopular that proper process wasn’t necessary?

  42. David Avatar
    David

    @Me

    Let us understand what you are saying.

    You believe that your colleagues would prefer to keep their mouths shut rather than clarify misinformation as they see it?

  43. Me Avatar
    Me

    No.

    I believe that medicine in general, and BAMP in particular, is a conservative hierarchy that doesn’t take well to criticism from juniors.

  44. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    Me

    My family is interested in term “job autonomy”. You must write slowly, I not read very fast …!

  45. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    @ Dr Me
    Have you done the ECFMG exams?
    If not you ought to do so, and come to US and do a residency
    This gives you the opportunity to work all over the world.
    Eveyone seems to like these qualifications.

    I was patriotic and failed to come and do a residency. Instead I stayed at home and worked in all lsorts of gigs including working for peanuts in the early eighties in the hope of getting the St Joselph’s A& E going.

    From your comments, I see that NOTHING has changed for the better of junior doctors in the last 30 years, They are still treated like dirt by Consultants the QEH Admin and the general public.

    And David BAMP does not waste time discussion such mundane matters as communicating with the public. Doctors must communicate and TEACH (doctor Latin docere) their patients. They dont have to tell the public their problems.

    Dr Me BU is ccertainly NOT the place to do this. Men here dont get facts straight, they tend to twist your words and spit them back at you with venom and malice and loathing! But you might have noted that already.

    They do not really listen. They do not and can not and will not understand the lot of the junior doctor. They have not experienced it. It is beyond thier comprehension.

  46. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    David you are adjudicating without the facts. When I have tried to explain what is happening behind the scenes I have been mocked by the called BU family.

    Re So far BAMP has done a lousy job apprising the public of the challenges at QEH on an ongoing basis.

    Me or any doctor does not have to bring the other side of the argument to the public, especially when the Minister has said he wants no public statements on the matter.
    Doctors are hired and contracted to treat patients. Doctors don’t have to tell the public of the challenges at QEH on an ongoing basis. They do have to work long grueling hours though.

    The thing about the work is the overwhelming responsibility of making the wrong diagnosis or giving the wrong treatment. It is always a weight on your shoulders. Added to that is Hospital BS!

    They do not necessarily have to feed the public with information, except Health Education. And you can believe that the doctors are the Untouchables, as much and as long as you feel like. Having heard the facts, your views have not really changed. Has it?

    As Me has said , senior doctors and BAMP do work consistently behind the scenes to improve patient care, even if this is not generally known to the public. And some of them started in the mid 70’s taking health care to the health clinics as they were then. Who stopped them?

    He is also correct in saying that the Seniors don’t . necessarily work to the best interest of junior doctors.

    He is also correct in saying that, this does not really need to be explained, but there are indeed legal and ethical issues involved with doctors blabbing to the newspapers about the difficulties of medical care; and all the intelligence and best will in the world can’t overcome administration who are fundamentally determined to take you down a peg.
    ALSO THE PUBLIC ARE ALSO ALWAYS WILLING TO TAKE YOU DOWN A PEG .
    Dr Me I told them that “ the idea that BAMP jumped suddenly to strike without prior negotiation is absurd.” They don’t believe what you say They don’t care what you say. They just want something to twist, to return to taking you down a peg. They will continue to make made statements with regard to the doctors that are either unfounded or false.
    Don’t hold your breath anticipating that they will rethink anything, even despite the information about the composition of the PART TIME board

  47. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    @ BT
    As usual Bush Tea, You come as usual adjudicating without the facts!
    You know nothing about my history at all. NOTHING! THANK GOD!

    I did not pack up and run away, I left to pursue the dream that I had when I went to Medical school. TO TEACH! When I got the chance to do so I grasped it and went as far as Rarotonga to do so, on one assignment. In the process I made stirling contributions to schools at which I taught, until forced to stay in the USA for immigration reasons.

    Re Generally, one is not GIVEN a chance to implement, one GRABS the opportunity, often against great odds, and with wise vision and bravery, MAKES it happen…..

    EXACTLY! That is what I did when as a youngster I wrote PM Adams, and after his death discussed with a certain government minister the details in the ER at the old St Joseph Hospital that caused us to run the NHS from the polyclinics rather than by the British system ..

    In your incessant and perpetual desire to discredit and denigrate me, you swipe with eyes shut, totally out of position and type bull shit, because you know nothing about me, and my penchant for innovation, or steadfastness or hard work

    Again you fail to stick to the facts, I am not at all crying about spilt milk because someone did not immediately endorse some idea I have about polyclinics and health…. RATHER

    I AM MOCKING THE LACK OF A PLAN TO SOLVE HEALTH IN BARBADOS.
    I AM MOCKING THE LACK OF VISION.
    I AM MOCKING THE CHAOS AS EVINCED BY HAVING A PART TIME BOARD OF MEDICAL ILLITERATES TRYING TO RUN A HOSPITAL.

    I want you to know that if someone adopts my ideas or not I WILL EAT EVERYDAY, and there will be peace in my home and in my heart, and I will have fun on BU when it suits me time permitting.

    I am not LOSING ANYTHING BECAUSE MY IDEAS ARE NOT FOLLOWED ….THE BAJANS THAT YOU PRETEND TO CARE ABOUT LOSES AND THE GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO LOOK STUPID!

    I am not here waiting like some mendicant hoping that some one will listen and follow my instructions. But I will laugh and comment when the bandy it about, as if it was their novel idea, And I will mock as they blunder, in the bog of their brain death and bull in the china shop policies.

    I WAS IN BARBADOS WHEN DONVILLE WAS APPOINTED MOH. I DID NOT RUN TO HIM CAP IN HAND BEGGING FOR WUK LIKE A MENDICANT. I HAD JUST WALKED AWAY FROM AN APPOINTMENT AS DEAN OF A NEW MEDICAL SCHOOL BECAUSE I DID NOT LIKE THE CONDITIONS. I NEEDED A JOB. BUT I DID NOT GO TO LICK HIS TAIL OR THAT OF ANY OF MY SEVERAL DLP BIG UPS FOR A JOB! OK?

    So I am bery sorry if you think that I am here sorrowing because jackasses dont have the sense to understand the simple solutions I shered. I am sorry to dissapoint you.

    And I don’t bully my students because I don’t need to, nor do they worship me, as you think . They do what they have to do and I do what I need to do. And I usually have good students. Nothing like the morons who post on BU with no substance, rhyme or reason. If they should chose to as they wish, I argue not. I just ask administration to adjudicate. Simple so! I dont suffer fools gladly. I set up simple protocols that are easy to follow for maximum results, and modify them with their reasonable feedback.

    One is justified in staying safe in FL far away, safe, well hidden from those of your ilk! BUT MY GOD SEEEST ME!

    Again if you can read no one has failed to do my wise Poly Clinic bidding, thereby causing me to flee. In 1985 they listened to me, and many have benefitted. …including politicians their wives and children and even lawyers and magistrates

    I left Barbados in early 2002 because I was unemployed and I grasped an opportunity to do what I love to do best! TEACH

    I have also made it clear on the thread that I DID NOT ONCE STRIKE on the two occasions when doctors chose to do so in my time.

    The 2008 proposals were written down in early 2006 FIVE YEARS AFTER I HAD LAST LEFT HOME AND BECAUSE IT WAS CLEAR TO ME THAT THE DLP HAD A MEDICAL OR HEALTH MESSAGE

    I WOULD THINK THAT THAT WAS A PATRIOTIC THING TO DO? Don’t you? I doubt your bias can allow you to see that. But God knows my heart!

    I have the right to respond to morons and seed pickers as I think best .I blog when I like and only on those topics that appeal to me only.

    Will you seek to intimidate me for that too, as you admit you would have done if you were the MOH?

    You advocated that this silly sacerdote with “guts” and “balls” was going to change everything at the hospital with his “balls” and “bull in the china shop” approach. I warned that BAMP would close ranks…and they did JUST AS THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO! They are humans like the rest of the society. And they have enough sense to know what Bajan people and their leaders understand

    Why should highly trained educated men bow down to a moronic, medical illiterate on medical matters ESPECIALLY WHEN HE IS WRONG?”

    Re One would have thought that BAMP would have been able to easily win this battle on the strength of pubic relations and intellectual content.

    Only you would think so! Your Chairmen came with his “balls”: and “delusions of grandeur” bull in the china shop approach. The psychiatrist and her colleagues picked up the diagnosis quickly , and treated him appropriately. STAMPED ON HIM LIKE A COCK ROACH WITH THE CONTEMPT HE DESERVES!

    And you and those of your ilk can say what you like, but Mr BALLS RUN STRAIGHT INTO A WALL JUST AS I PREDICTED. PRIESTS DON’T RUN HOSPITALS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, except in BARBADOS and maybe in Catholic Hospitals in the back woods somewhere!

    Morons in the government understand strike. They don’t understand medical requirements, they don’t understand decency. They dont have or understand intellect. What intellect what? They are into power. Now they know!

    Why don’t you grasp the opportunity to help the Minister and the Chairman. GRASP THIS CHANCE TO HELP! GO AND GIVE HIM PR LESSONS

    YOU KNOW EVERYTHING or so you you think
    SO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS
    GIVE IDEAS OF HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS IN HEALTH AND HOSPITAL .

    I did my part in 1985 and I sent the lessons to Donville long before he became Minister in 2008 What more do you want me to do?

  48. Micah Avatar
    Micah

    I agree that the doctors have over a period of years not been very good at PR. However, how are they supposed to be critical of their public sector employers when as we have seen they could be so easily dismissed. Having said that, why is it that we have not seen this level of BAMP industrial activity recently, and it all came about once the QEH Board decided to terminate several doctors within a short period of time, with rumors that more are to go. The next step I predict is the QEH Board hiring trade union persons and public relation persons (all at taxpayer expense of course), to deal with BAMP. I don’t know what BAMP’s financial situation is but they can’t be as rich as the QEH . By the way, are thee BAMP President and PRO and other persons on their Board paid?

  49. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    @ GP
    ‘Most are just engaging in Bajan rum shop behavior, where facts, logic, substance is not necessarily a high priority.’

    Be careful GP, an approach that is inclusive of logic, facts, substance and practicality is deemed partisan, which is a subtle way of saying anti-government.

    @ Me
    ‘I can only guess they thought that the doctors in question were so unpopular that proper process wasn’t necessary?’

    I will say it again, the government has no respect for law, protocol or proper process. Only this week in Barbados there was a serious domestic dispute involving an individual who was wrongfully dismissed by the government. That dismissal appears to have contributed to the current mental and emotional state of the individual, which nearly led to a tragedy of great proportions.

  50. Me Avatar
    Me

    @Micah

    You’ve hit on it— most of the time the younger, angrier doctors are also the ones who are most vulnerable to retaliation by senior doctors, administration, and the public; and as we have seen, the public is only too eager to assume the worst about doctors.

    Senior doctors are more secure, but also more comfortable, and more willing to wait twenty years for administration to address issues.

    BAMP’s industrial activity was essentially forced on them by the Board’s behaviour in refusing to even address concerns and misrepresenting ongoing negotiations in a surprise public address.

    Doctors here hate industrial action like poison. Between the workaholics, the do-gooders, those who fear for their reputation and those who fear a dent in their paycheck, doctors here are almost 100% comprised of people who hate to be away from their work unless it’s scheduled vacation— and sometimes not even then. We haven’t seen industrial action before because the Board hasn’t been quite this stupid before.

    Note that the doctors’ concerns have yet to be properly addressed. We ended the strike once the Board agreed to negotiate.

    Again, this is not to claim that there aren’t serious issues with the doctors at QEH; it’s just that the issues should be addressed in a fair, systematic fashion for widespread benefit, not by ad-hoc firings and slanderous public addresses.

    I think that this will get worse before it gets better, though. The current contract system was put in place with the specific intention of allowing at-will firing, though it was only done sporadically. I fear that QEH administration will not react well to being blocked on this issue. They fundamentally have no real interest in creating a positive working environment, and they will struggle mightily to regain a whip hand.

    I shouldn’t speculate as to BAMP’s finances, but we certainly couldn’t match QEH’s coffers.
    As far as I know, BAMP’s board is unpaid. It’s prestigious volunteer work.

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