By Eulalee Thompson, Staff Reporter 
Dr. Winston Dawes... sent on leave. - File
GOVERNMENT MEDICAL consultants yesterday came out in full support of their colleague, Dr. Winston Dawes, May Pen Hospital's senior medical officer, who was sent on immediate leave last Friday by the Southern Regional Health Authority (SRHA) reportedly to allow for the conduct of a management audit.
Dr. Trevor McCartney, president of the Association of Government Medical Consultants, a group consisting of senior medical officers (SMOs) and other senior medical consultants, said that the association is calling for the immediate reinstatement of Dr. Dawes and for the Minister of Health, John Junor, to promptly set up an independent enquiry into the operations of the SRHA.
"The Association of Government Medical Consultants views with great concern the unprecedented action of the enforced leave of... Dr. Dawes. The association is (also) concerned about the apparent breakdown in the management principles and practices in the southern region in general, and specifically at the May Pen Hospital.
"Information coming from the region alludes to a significant deterioration in the morale of the health team, which has adversely affected patient care," Dr. McCartney said.
An emergency meeting of medical doctors including the Medical Association of Jamaica (MAJ), held yesterday in Mandeville, has also demanded the immediate reinstatement of Dr. Dawes. Reports are that the doctors are threatening to all go on vacation leave if the reinstatement does not occur within a time frame yet to be decided.
Dr. Errol Daley, president of the MAJ, who attended the Mandeville meeting, told The Gleaner that his association views as "grossly unfair" the enforced vacation leave of Dr. Dawes. He said that Dr. Dawes has complained about a lot of injustices at the hospital and the atmosphere of tension and fear between management and staff.
The May Pen Hospital, located in Clarendon, has been the scene of some disputes recently. There was uneasiness recently between the management and some staff members over the transfer of staff member Avril Dickson-Thomas to the Lionel Town Hospital and there were also claims that the hospital was charging a 20 to 30 per cent administrative fee which it has no permission to charge.
Reports are that Dr. Dawes, who has been working at the May Pen Hospital for the past 27 years and who was recognised for his services in the medical field on August 6 with the award of Order of Distinction (Commander Class, C.D.), was instrumental in bringing to public attention the controversial transfer of Mrs. Dickson-Thomas.
Dr. Dawes said that the letter sending him on leave, signed by regional director of SRHA, Faye Petgrave, indicated that he was to proceed on leave immediately, until October 7, and that this should not be taken as any form of disciplinary action. It also indicated that a Permanent Secretary may direct any officer to take vacation leave at any time.
Dr. Dawes, however, views the action as disciplinary and said that he was being forced on vacation leave at a time when the hospital is short-staffed and when he was scheduled for surgical operations on two patients.
A Ministry of Health release indicates that the Board of SRHA and the Ministry of Health are to conduct an independent review of the operations at the May Pen Hospital and resolve on-going management conflicts there.
"In the opinion of the Board and the Ministry, this review is best conducted in the absence of the senior medical officer, Dr. Winston Dawes, and the former CEO and parish manager for Clarendon, Canute Thompson," the release stated.
