BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - HEALTH MINISTER Dr. Terrance Drew has announced a change at the Joseph N France General Hospital that will come into effect today (Feb. 4) to reduce the time patients seeking care have to wait at the facility.
Prime Minister Drew, speaking with a select group of reporters yesterday afternoon, said his Government is continuing to build on the “process structures needed to improve the delivery of quality healthcare service in our country”.
The hospital, over the last several years, more specifically last year, came in for heavy criticism following several deaths, which have prompted the Prime Minister, a medical doctor, to institute a number of changes since taking office back in August last.
According to Dr. Drew, critical to strengthening healthcare at the hospital, “is ensuring that top management are in place and functioning effectively. I am pleased to welcome Dr. Sharon Archibald on her appointment as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, as well as Dr. Rondalyn Dennis-Bradshaw, who is now the new Principal Nursing Officer (PNO) in the Ministry of Health; a critical position that was left vacant for over seven years”.
Meanwhile, the aggravating wait time to be seen and prioritized at the facility would be cut down, according to the PM.
“We now have, from tomorrow, Saturday February 4, 2023, triage nurses as well as two doctors always stationed at the Accident & Emergency JNF General Hospital. This will significantly cut down on the wait times for persons seeking varying levels of care,” Dr. Drew announced.
