Claudine Housen, Staff Reporter

WESTERN BUREAU:

Ailing policemen will soon be able to access state-of-the-art recuperative care at the Jamaica Police Convalescent Home in Black River, St. Elizabeth, officials say.

The multimillion dollar facility was opened on November 29 last year, but was not able to accept patients due to a lack of medical personnel.

"We have not received patients to date because some of the staff had not been identified," Manager Milton Daley told The Gleaner last week. "We are now at the point where we have identified all the staffing that needs to be in place, and the facility should be up and running by the second week in May."

Not a luxury hotel

Pleased with the prospect of finally admitting patients, Mr. Daley, however, cautioned members of the force to refrain from viewing the facility as a luxury hotel.

"We recognise that persons, having heard about this beautiful facility, will want to come here and just easy or to relax," he said. "It (the facility) is intended for persons who are truly in need of specialist care, who may be required to travel long distances, and may not have supporting family readily accessible to cater to their needs."

An old residence, which has been refitted at a cost $26 million of which the National Commercial Bank (NCB) donated $15 million, members of the Constabulary Force view the home as a beacon of hope.

"Too often the police have been disregarded, especially in the area of health care. There have been allegations of neglect of police personnel at certain institutions, (as well as) of no medical amenities available to police personnel," said Harold Francis, president of the District Constables Association.

Gesture

"We welcome the gesture from the corporate sector in the form of Michael Lee Chin and hope that others will emulate him. Nobody is intending to get hurt but it is comforting to know that you will be taken care of. It brings peace of mind and is a morale booster for the police."

The home has a capacity for 14 patients and will boast three doctors on call, a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist, a counsellor, a psychologist a registered nurse, practical nurses and other members of staff. The facility will operate at a cost $2 million per month.

"It is important for the viability of the of the home that we get budgetary support from the Government of Jamaica and we have that commitment," commented Corporal Hartley Stewart, general secretary of the Police Federation.

He also noted that individuals who wanted to contribute to the facility, whether with cash or volunteer work, would be welcomed.