THE EDITOR, Sir:
I WRITE calling on the relevant authorities including the North Eastern Regional Health Authority and the Annotto Bay Hospital regarding a matter I wish to relate hereunder so that the necessary corrective action can be taken.
Between the hours of about 1 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. on the morning of Sunday, April 13, I was in the Annotto Bay Square when a mother attempted to use the public phone and it wasn't working, so I assisted her.
She wanted the service of an ambulance to take her two-week old baby to the Annotto Bay Hospital and after dialling the hospital, we were told that before the ambulance could leave the compound the supervisor has to approve and that the supervisor had been very difficult to locate.
After waiting for about 25 minutes without getting the supervisor I hung up and called 110, then after being connected to the Annotto Bay Hospital we waited and it was the same story, so we had to hang up after half an hour's wait, but without any aid.
Because there was no taxi or any form of transportation in the square the mother left for the hospital on foot, whilst crying as she took the baby in hand in between the dripping rain.
The end result, the baby was admitted in the hospital for over a week.
Now can you imagine that the child could have died though an ambulance was available and only because there was no supervisor to give direction. Would this be the case if a serious accident had happened?
Whilst I understand the need for control, there must be a measure of discretion.
I am, etc.,
DONAVAN ARCHIE
Box 27
Annotto Bay P.O.
