SJH Records Massive Bed Occupancy Increase

The 50-bed St. Jude Hospital (SJH) has recorded a massive increase in bed occupancy, mainly due to a surge in violent crime and chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). The disclosure came from Health, Wellness, and Elderly Affairs Minister Moses Jn Baptiste. “We have an increase in hospital admissions. For the St Jude Hospital for example, this year over last year we have a 294 percent increase in bed occupancy,” the Minister stated. Regarding the 120-bed OKEU Hospital in Castries, Jn Baptiste revealed that admissions were over 100 percent compared to last year, with twenty-six percent of the cases related to NCDs. He told reporters that Saint Lucia faces severe problems with NCDs. Jn Baptiste also reiterated that families, communities and the operations of health facilities feel the negative impact of violent crime. He explained that gun violence and wounding victims require immediate medical attention, creating a backlog at the Accident and Emergency Department, where several people are awaiting health care. The Minister observed that the situation impacts the mental wellness of healthcare professionals. To address the hospital bed occupancy issue, Jn Baptiste noted that the former Victoria Hospital now functions as a secondary care facility. “Eventually, we will see another 31...