The news two women died last month soon after giving birth at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) should be of concern to all Barbadians. While these two maternal deaths were widely reported in the mainstream media there have been many others that have been kept hush hush in recent years. In the interest of transparency we are asking the QEH authorities to explain why two women are dead who should be home nursing their babies.
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Latest available official figures for maternal deaths are:
2007 – 0
2008 – 3
2009 – 3
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@David, Dr. Agard raised some important points. I would hope that the health authorities would take note of them and not dismiss them as simply political rhetoric.
Part of the problem in Barbados is that we accept meekly and are afraid to question. To question does not mean anything was done wrong, all it means it that IF something was done incorrectly it comes out in the light.
@ Caswell Franklyn January 15, 2016 at 9:35 AM
“The answer is simple, the QEH is a very nasty place that is badly in need of cleaning. As a result of Government cutbacks the hospital has to make do with what it gets and cleanliness suffers..”
You have cut surgically straight to the heart of the matter overriding all the academic and intellectually sterile crap that has ensued from your erudite explanation.
Barbadians have been warned of the pending public health crisis resulting from their total indifference to the risks posed by their extremely poor attitudes (for a so-called educated country) towards garbage disposal and collection.
With the ongoing water distribution challenges (many of which can be avoided) public health will certainly be compromised thereby creating the perfect storm conditions for a major outbreak of very serious communicable diseases.
A country which wishes to feel safe about its public health must never, never compromise its potable water or basic public health systems.
The pile up of garbage around the island benefits only the species that thrive on human bad sanitation habits. It’s just a matter of time before the vectors of diseases inimical to human healthy existence multiply like rats and spread like germs and viruses among the dirty human population.
Don’t be surprised if you see an ad for an application for a work permit for a foreign Pied Piper for Bridgetown.
Caswell Franklyn January 15, 2016 at 4:58 PM #
Latest available official figures for maternal deaths are:
2007 – 0
2008 – 3
2009 – 3
CASWELL THESE ARE VERY VERY GOOD RATES…………..ESPECIALLY FOR A”NASTY “HOSPITAL
I REPEAT
ALL MATERNAL DEATHS IN A TEACHING HOSPITAL LIKE QEH ARE INVESTIGATED…….ALL
THIS HAS BEEN THE NORM BEFORE THE EXISTENCE OF BU WHICH ALLOWS EVABODY TO WASH THEY MOUT BOUT THINGS THEY KNOW NUTTIN BOUT
We cant really make an informed comment without getting the facts and figures. What are the number of maternal deaths per live births in last ten years? Was the deaths due to negligence? We dont know. The media needs to ask these questions so that we can get the answers.
Both my parents died at the QEH.
I will reserve my “opinions” given that I am not qualified to comment on medical matters.
the Bees are pushing the envelope to save their dead a.sses from final extinction in the next election every fking thing they drag across the pages of BU without having relevant facts to back up.
@Caswell, thanks for that data on total maternal deaths for the period provided. It would be interesting to see more recent data.
@Everyone, it is tempting for some to look at the total maternal deaths per year and conclude that they are”good”. However, the key indicator used by public health analysts for benchmarking and measuring maternal mortality is not total maternal deaths but the maternal mortality ratio. A simple maternal mortality ratio is calculated by dividing the recorded number of maternal deaths by total recorded number of live births in the same period. Then you multiply by 100,000. That gives a truer picture of the pervasiveness of maternal deaths in the Barbados. This is one of the maternal health indicators used by the World Health Organisation: http://www.who.int/healthinfo/statistics/indmaternalmortality/en/
So please do not be misled.
Once you know this statistic, then of course you will need to delve into deeper analysis to ascertain the nature of the problem. What were the causes of death, did the decedents have any contributing conditions which made them more susceptible to developing complications, how prevalent are deaths caused by medical malpractice etc.. This is the kind of data we should be collecting if we aren’t already.
What A LARK.
this why I come to BU when I am bored
CASWELL i repeat THESE ARE VERY VERY GOOD RATES…………..ESPECIALLY FOR A”NASTY “HOSPITAL
now we have a jackass trying to teach the teacher MURDAH
now we have a jackass trying accusing the teacher of misleading the populace
A simple maternal mortality ratio is calculated by dividing the recorded number of maternal deaths by total recorded number of live births in the same period. Then you multiply by 100,000.
divide 3 by say 3000 live births and multiply by 100,000. YOU WILL HAVE A GOOD RATE
divide 0 by say 3000 live births and multiply by 100,000. YOU WILL HAVE A GOOD RATE
the number of live births is probably more than 3000 now too
likkle johhnny is contradicting themselves
o divided by any number of live birth multiplid by 1oo,ooo is A VERY GOOD NUMBER ANYDAY ANY WHERE …ya dummy!
Re Once you know this statistic, then of course you will need to delve into deeper analysis to ascertain the nature of the problem. What were the causes of death, did the decedents have any contributing conditions which made them more susceptible to developing complications, how prevalent are deaths caused by medical malpractice etc.. This is the kind of data we should be collecting if we aren’t already.
HERE IS WHAT YOU CALL A JOHHNY COME LATELY PONTIFICATING
THIS INFO HAS BEN COLLECTED BEFORE YOU WERE BORN LIKKLE JOHHNY
so using your statistics LIKKLE JOHHNY can you tell us why or HOW TWO WOMEN DIED AT QEH
bare mock sport in the BU RUM SHOP
re Hants January 15, 2016 at 5:56 PM #
Both my parents died at the QEH.
I will reserve my “opinions” given that I am not qualified to comment on medical matters.
Hants my father died soon after being released from QEH and his death certificate obtained therefrom does not correctly state his cause of death in my opinion………and I am qualified to comment on medical matters.
David
If you will give me the “history” for the other woman who died I will give you a good idea of what happened PATHOPHYSIOLOGICALLY…….and WITHOUT MISLEADING THE BLOG murdah and without going to wikipedia as a certain sage on BU says
THE BU RUM SHOP TOO SWEAT
HANTS I HERE WATCHING AFRIDI RUN RINGS ROUND NEW ZEALAND
@ GP,
I have very little knowledge of the medical profession. I agree with you that we should not speculate on these two tragic deaths however we require the QEH to be transparent. As you well know Barbados is a country that remains highly secretive in all areas of life.
You may be interested in the story below:
@Georgie Porgie, I am ignoring your childish rants and replying to you only because your dismissal of established best practice used by the WHO, IDB, WB, etc on measuring maternal health is misleading to others who know no better. I have worked in development policy, including work on public health. But it is up to others to do their own research.
You keep touting your medical knowledge as if it makes you above reproach. Sir, one does not need medical knowledge in order to comment on whether Barbados’ maternal mortality rate is still higher than it should be for a country of its development level. And let me just say that having knowledge of something does not make you the only source of knowledge. As such I am not obligated to slavishly accept what you say as gospel.
Re the two deaths, as I stated in my earlier submissions in this thread, we have no idea what caused the ladies’ deaths and I see no point in speculating without being apprised of the facts.On that we agree.
That said, please feel free to continue indulging in your petulant rantings. They say more about your level of intellect than mine.
Exclaimer
Thanks for this very interesting case of incompetence by the anaesthetist.Maternal deaths are relatively rare at QEH and always taken seriously by Medical and nursing staff. It used to be exciting to see all the O & G staff, the students and other maguffies sit and discuss the case.
@George Porgie
On BU, I learn to pass your postings, you are educated, but still just like AC, the QEH compromised and lack of funds started with /by Minister BT of the DLP when the funds were diverted to the St Joseph Hospital ,the BLP failed because their knew the problems at the QEH , started the right way by removing the corrupted heads but got cold feet and allowed an exploitative form of patient care to gain more root at QEH, the victims the poor ,for the last 7 years the QEH lack funding again by this DLP who diverted the funds to St.John Polyclinic resulting in a health crisis created by the simpletons in the DLP .now , Dr GP, what wrong with patient care at QEH?
caribbeantradelaw January 15, 2016 at 7:30 PM #
I have not dismissed established best practice used by the WHO, IDB, WB, etc on measuring maternal health
but any likkle boy in school can see that if you divide 0 by say 3000 live births OR ANY NUMBER OF LIVE BIRTHS and multiply by 100,000. YOU WILL HAVE A GOOD RATE
THAT IS SIMPLE MATHEMATICS ah lie
YOU CANT GET A BETTER RATE THAN NO DEATHS IN A YEAR
try that calculation and tell me who is misleading others who know no better.
re I have worked in development policy, including work on public health. GREAT AND I WORKED ALSO IN PUBLIC HEALTH
RE But it is up to others to do their own research. YOU DONT NEED NO RESEARCH TO FIGURE OUT THAT if you divide 0 by say 3000 live births OR ANY NUMBER OF LIVE BIRTHS and multiply by 100,000. YOU WILL HAVE A GOOD RATE
THAT IS SIMPLE MATHEMATICS ah lie?
RE As such I am not obligated to slavishly accept what you say as gospel.
NOR DO I CAUSE YOU ARE BASICALLY TALKING SHITE
RE please feel free to continue indulging in your petulant rantings. They say more about your level of intellect than mine.
YES I HAVE THE ABILITY TO MOCK MORONS LIKE YOU WHO TINK DEY KNOW IT ALL
YOUR YORKERS ARE FULL TOSSES AND WILL BE DISPATCHED
While researching healthcare in Barbados came across the following article by Dr.Colin Alert. A sobering assessment by an insider.
http://caribgp.org/article/government-proposes-slash-budget-main-hospital-barbados.
BU notes Dr. Carlos Chase’s scathing criticism of the NUPW blocking of support services at the QEH working shift/24 hours like the lab etc. We have to keep asking questions as taxpayers to hold these people accountable.
watchman January 15, 2016 at 7:41 PM #
@George Porgie
RE
On BU, I learn to pass your postings, you are educated, but still just like AC,
PLEASE KINDLY NOTE THAT I DONT GET PAID WHEN YOU OR ANY OTHER PERSON READ MY POSTS ON BU. OK SO YOU CAN READ OR DONT READ
YOU ARE CONFUSED
WHEN TAITT RESURRECTED ST JOSEPH HOSPITAL THAT WAS A GREAT MOVE AIMED AT DECENTRALIZING CARE IN BIM
IN THOSE DAYS CASES FROM MBPC AND DRS IN THE NORTH WERE SENT TO ST JOSEPH AND GOT PROMPT TREATMENT. IT HAD STARTED TO TAKE THE BURDEN OFF QEH
THE BLP FAILED WHEN THEY CLOSED ST JOSEPH HOSPITAL
RE the QEH lack funding again by this DLP who diverted the funds to St.John Polyclinic resulting in a health crisis created by the simpletons in the DLP
I DONT KNOW ABOUT THAT
BUT AS LONG AS SINCE 1985 I PROPOSED THAT HEALTH CARE FACILITY FOR MOST OF ST JOHN AND ST GEORGE BE AT THE JUNCTION OF HIGHWAYS 4 AND X. AND NOT IN ST JOHN AT ALL
.
Just so you guys would knock yourselves out, the number of live births, from official sources, for the period 2007 – 2009 are:
2007 – 3,652
2008 – 3,667
2009 – 3,568
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Georgie Porgie
You will note that the babies started dying when the cutbacks started.
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And then you would get on another blog telling people about Jesus and the holy bible????? People like YOU are the reason keep far away from the church. Obnoxious old prick!!
watchman January 15, 2016 at 7:41 PM #
THE health crisis created by the simpletons in the DLP WAS OF COURSE CAUSED WHEN TH NEW DLP GUVMENT IN EARLY JANUARY FAILED TO INVITE GP TO COME HOME AND IMPLEMENT HIS PLAN (which the lucians tief) PRESENTED ON BU AH LIE
THY EMPLOYED SINISTER INSTEAD AH MEAN DEXTER
Be Jesus Christ!! You have got to be the biggest a- hole known to man! You mean every shyte you does have to politicize???? I now she why you are a old, ugly, dried up freak. It must be sickening being in your presence!! What a JA!!
RE Calm January 15, 2016 at 8:21 PM #
And then you would get on another blog telling people about Jesus and the holy bible????? People like YOU are the reason keep far away from the church. Obnoxious old prick!!
OBNOXIOUS BUT ACCURATE!
OBNOXIOUS BUT RIGHT!
now can you add anything of relevance to the discussion?
Caswell Franklyn January 15, 2016 at 8:14 PM #
Just so you guys would knock yourselves out, the number of live births, from official sources, for the period 2007 – 2009 are:
2007 – 3,652
2008 – 3,667
2009 – 3,568
so 0/3652 x 10000 is a good rate
this had been constant for many years
Caswell Franklyn January 15, 2016 at 8:17 PM #
Georgie Porgie
You will note that the babies started dying when the cutbacks started.
THIS MAKES SENSE CASWELL in all respcts
caswell can you explain exactly what the NUPW is saying about support services at the QEH working shift/24 hours like the lab etc.
@David,
“The global MDG 5 target for maternal health is to reduce the number of women who die in pregnancy and childbirth by three-quarters between 1990 and 2015. When applying this target to Barbados, maternal mortality should fall to 30 cases per 100,000 live births. In 2010 Barbados had 51 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births (an estimate from UN agencies/World Bank), thus indicating that there is some way to go in the achievement of this target.”
Source: http://www.commonwealthhealth.org/americas/barbados/current_health_issues_and_progress_in_barbados/
This is based on 2010 data, evidenced by the reference here to the MDGs and not the SDGs which were agreed to in 2015. We need to know the current situation and it would be nice if we had some post 2009 data. The most recent HDI report has 52 out of 100,000 live births. While this is not as high as some other Caribbean countries, we are way off target for the level we should be at.
As I said, people are free to do their own research.
@Alicia
Thanks!
As I have said before you are a JOHHNNY COME LATELY
re The global MDG 5 target for maternal health is to reduce the number of women who die in pregnancy and childbirth by three-quarters between 1990 and 2015.
WAS THAT FIGURE NOT THE TARGET set AS FAR BACK AS THE LATE 70’S? the mortality rate was 0-3 of 3000 daths per annum for decades until the cut backs THAT IS DAMN GOOD HEALTH CARE ALL THINGS CONSIDERING
and what does this have to do with HOW DID TWO WOMEN DIE AT THE QEH
can you tell us anything to enlighten us as to HOW DID TWO WOMEN DIE AT THE QEH
Lol @Georgie Porgie, you obviously have no idea what the MDGs were. I also noted the fact that in your desperation to prove me wrong, you did not even realise the difference between the simple index I had explained and the fact that most MDBs like the WB, IDB etc use more sophisticated regression-based models to calculate maternal mortality rates. Thanks for the laugh though. Have a good night!
Georgie Porgie
My union represents one doctor and one nurse at the QEH, neither of whom is affected by the proposed changes. I am not familiar with NUPW’s position on the changes.
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QUESTION HOW DID TWO WOMEN DIE AT THE QEH
ANSWER THE ANSWER WILL MOST LIKELY LIE IN ONE OF THESE CAUSES
Causes of Maternal Mortality
The leading causes of maternal death are classified as direct or indirect.
Direct causes are those related to obstetric complications of pregnancy, labor and delivery, and the post-partum periods. Direct causes account for 80% of maternal death.* Indirect causes* are those relating to pre-existing medical conditions that may be aggravated by the physiologic demands of pregnancy. A brief overview of the leading causes of maternal death in the developing world follows.
Some causes of maternal mortality are the same in the developing and developed world however the prevalence is significantly lower in the developed world. In fact, according to Minino, et al, in the United States, “only 0.06% of women with direct obstetric complications died in facilities. This is well below the maximum acceptable case fatality rate of 1% as per UN guidelines. The most frequent cause of death was complications predominantly in the puerperium (28%), which was followed by pre-eclampsia, and eclampsia (21%).”
Direct Causes
Note: These cannot be predicted.
Hemorrhage (uncontrolled bleeding) I.E DIC
Accounts for approximately 25% of maternal deaths and is the single most serious risk to maternal health.
Blood loss during pregnancy, labor, or post-partum.
Can rapidly lead to death without medical intervention.
Can be treated with blood transfusions, oxytocics (drugs which induce uterine contractions to stop bleeding), and/or manual removal of the placenta.
Sepsis (infection)
Accounts for approximately 15% of maternal deaths.
Related to poor hygiene and infection control during delivery or to the presence of untreated sexually transmitted infections during pregnancy.
Can be prevented or managed with high standards for infection control, appropriate prenatal testing and treatment of maternal infection, and appropriate use of intravenous or intramuscular antibiotics during labor and post-partum period.
Hypertensive Disorders
Accounts for approximately 12% of maternal deaths
Pre-eclampsia (also know as toxemia of pregnancy) is characterized by hypertension (high blood pressure), proteinurea (protein in the urine, general edema (swelling), and sudden weight gain. If left untreated, can lead to eclampsia.
Eclampsia is characterized by kidney failure, seizures, and coma during pregnancy or post-partum. Can lead to maternal and/or infant death.
Pre-eclampsia can be identified in the prenatal period by monitoring blood pressure, screening urine for protein, and through physical assessment.
Treatment available during childbirth includes the use of sedative or anti-convulsant drugs.
Prolonged or Obstructed Labor
Accounts for 8% of maternal deaths.
Caused by cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD), a disproportion between the size of the fetal head and the maternal pelvis; or by the position of the fetus at the time of delivery.
Increased incidence among women with poor nutritional status
Use of assisted vaginal delivery methods such as forceps, vacuum extractor, or performing a Caesarean Section can prevent adverse outcomes.
CPD is the leading cause of obstetrical fistula
Unsafe Abortion
Accounts for approximately 13% of maternal deaths.
In some parts of the world unsafe abortion accounts for 1/3 of maternal deaths.
Approximately 67,000 cases of abortion related deaths occur each year.
Can be prevented by providing safe abortion, quality family planning services, and competent post-abortion care.
Indirect Causes
Accounts for approximately 20% of maternal deaths.
Pre-existing medical conditions such as anemia, malaria, hepatitis, heart disease, and HIV/AIDS can increase the risk of maternal death.
Risk of adverse outcomes can be reduced through prenatal identification and treatment as well as the availability of appropriate basic emergency obstetric care (EmOC) at the time of delivery.
Maternal Morbidity
For every maternal death there are approximately thirty times as many cases of pregnancy related illness or disability. For example, obstetric fistula (an opening between the bladder and the vagina) is usually the result of obstructed labor. It causes incontinence (the inability to hold urine). Although fistulas are preventable with good obstetric care, they have tragic consequences for many women, who are often left abandoned and isolated.
I DONT CARE ONE DAMN ABOUT YOU AND YOUR SHIT TALK AND STATISTICS
THE BLOG IS ABOUT HOW DID TWO WOMEN DIE AT QEH
YOU STARTED AT 8:30 WITH YOUR INDICES AND STAISTICS BUT YOU HAVE NOT SHED ANY LIGHT FOR US ON WHY TWO WOMEN DIED AT QEH
YOU CAN LAFF TILL YOUR KNICKERS FALL INTO A KNOT YOU HAVE NO IDEA OF WHAT POSSIBLY HAPPENED
AS A CLINICIAN I HAVE SEEN IT AND KNOW WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE IT HAS TO BE ONE OF TH CAUSES LISTED
YOUR SILLY STATISTICS WILL NOT SOLVE ANY PROBLEMS
If all of this time we are still waiting for answers concerning the 2 or 3 children who died last year under suspicious circumstances, do we expect anytime soon to get answers on these maternal deaths?
DAVID
DO YOU KNOW YET THE POSSIBLE CAUSES AS TO WHY TWO WOMEN DIED AT QEH
IF NOT YOU ARE A DUMMY
MEDICINE IS ABOUT LEARNING LISTS AND THEN APPLYING THOSE LISTS BY ASKING THE RELEVANT QUESTIONS IN A LOGICAL WAY
I HAD A GOOD DAY MOCKING IN THE BU RUM SHOP
Colonel Buggy January 15, 2016 at 9:55 PM #
If all of this time we are still waiting for answers concerning the 2 or 3 children who died last year under suspicious circumstances, do we expect anytime soon to get answers on these maternal deaths?
BUGGY MA BOY
TO GET THE ANSWERS THE FOLK ONLY HAVE TO ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS LOGICALLY AND PRESTO YOU WILL HAVE THE ANSWERS
THIS IS THE ONLY WAY
THERE IS NO ROCKET SCIENCE NEEDED
@Caswell Franklyn January 15, 2016 at 9:35 AM “The answer is simple, the QEH is a very nasty place…surgeons discharge their friends from the recovery room in order to keep them out of the nasty wards.”
Had surgery at the QEH within the last 12 months. The staff was helpful. The public ward was clean. Had the surgery at about 6 p.m. was discharged at 10 next morning. Everything then and now has been uneventful.
This is my story.
Was in the antenatal area this morning.
The obesity plaguing the rest of Barbados is also plaguing our young mothers.
And as we know with obesity comes hypertension and diabetes.
Devid you asked “HOW DID TWO WOMEN DIE AT THE QEH?”
I do not know.
Do you?
From 6:30 of the following clip sheds some light. Let Google be your friend.
http://vob929.com/FilesFTP/News/2016/January/NewsJan121230.mp3
Had a schoolmate/registered nurse who died of eclampsia in the late 70’s.
Eclampsia has not gone away.
Every single maternity ward in the world has to deal with it at some time.
For a fictional account of eclampsia see the episode of “ER” called “Love’s labors lost”
@Hants January 15, 2016 at 5:56 PM “Both my parents died at the QEH.”
Mine too Hants.
But they were 85 and 95.
Does that still count?
@caribbeantradelaw January 15, 2016 at 2:01 PM “Speaking generally now, one cannot deny that our health care system has serious challenges. It is a well known fact that those who can afford to tend to avoid the QEH and polyclinics wherever possible. ”
I could have afforded to but I chose to have my recent surgery done at the QEH. and I chose to stay on a public ward. A good number of my relatives are health professionals, nurses, physicians, lab technicians etc. (I am the only simple one) both here and in the great white north.
I made my choice based on their good loving advice.
A lotta we Bajans are poor great poppets and ignorantly assume that because we pay twice for something that it is better.
I let my tax money work for me.
@ Georgie Porgie
The decentralizing of health care, that you, the then minister Taitt and this now minister Boyce talk about is just flawed, you must have known that the patients from St. Joseph Hospital that get complications always ended up in QEH, so what the point? that decentralizing crap by Taitt was a form of corruption that benefited the likes of the bro of this same minister of health, you must know how good a Dr he is and his track record on this subject of maternal deaths,how is the St. John Policlinic going?
@ georgie Porgie
Please say if one of the ways a mother can died after giving birth is like a the case that was in Barbados courts with a DR Boyce
Thanks Dr. GP.
The only one talking sense on this blog today.
THANKS SIMPLE SIMON
What’s that saying again if it isn’t one thing it’s another and since this is a discussion on childbirth and mortality this should be of interest to the readers. There is recent news about another mosquito borne illness and the CDC is considering warning pregnant US citizens about travel to South, Central America (esp. Brazil) and the Caribbean because of the Zika virus which has been linked to birth defects. In the Caribbean it is reported to be in Haiti and Martinque and it’s only a matter of time before it lands on Barbados shores.
http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/zika-virus-could-spread-to-north-america-researchers-say-1.2738002
Like i say the Bees are not interested in facts the closer it gets to election the more dirt they will be digging ,This article is a glowingly revelation of the Bees desperation for relevancy .The Bees idea of fact finding is dredge from a welloiled machine of political propaganda ….. exhibit A the poll
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