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Region Six’s Health Director, Jevaughn Stephens says that the ‘sit-in’ by physicians on Monday at the Skeldon Hospital was mainly as a result of a lack of communication and the closure of the Skeldon Estate Dispensary which has led to an increase in the number of patients at the said hospital.

On Monday the physicians attached to the Accident and Emergency (A & E) Department of the Skeldon Hospital held a day-long ‘sit-in’ due to the shortage of medical supplies and drugs.

The Health Director at a press conference held yesterday at the Regional Health Services Boardroom confirmed that there is a shortage of drugs and supplies at the Skeldon Hospital. However, he said that had the situation been properly communicated to those in charge, it could have been instantly rectified.

“The ‘sit-in’ was because of a shortage of critical drugs and medical supplies,” Stephens confirmed, while adding, “we met with the staff this morning, and we had about three hours of discussion, [and] coming out of that discussion, we have paved the way forward, and one of our major barriers, is the lack thereof of communication”.

Stephens noted that the staff at the hospital and the local health authorities are aware that “we need to improve our communication internally”. He stressed that the communication between local pharmacists at the various hospitals within the region also needs to improve. “In the event Skeldon [Hospital] has a shortage, Port Mourant [Hospital] could assist, and vice versa,” he explained.

Stephens stated that he believes once communication is improved among the staff and authorities there will be a “reduction of drug shortages in the region”. He added that it was discovered during the meeting that the health sector’s planning and distribution