Weekly Column

We congratulate Dr. David Estwick this week for finally coming to the realization that former Minister of Health, Dr. Jerome Walcott’s proposal for a new general hospital for Barbados is the best solution for our tertiary health care needs for the next forty or so years.

The DLP made light of our plans for a new hospital during the Election, but like so many things since then, were it not for plans left behind by us in tourism, energy, agriculture, the environment, health and education the country would be in an untenable position today. But such is the nature of politics.

Having agreed with our proposal for a new hospital, Dr. Estwick must now get the job done. In the foregoing seven months he has made proclamations and promises, issued threats and advice, discovered plots and plans and generally upset everyone from the unions, doctors and nurses, to the SSA staff and even an overseas medical insurance broker. His ambit has been far and wide. Oh what a change from his first tour of the QEH when the staff was lined up to greet him with hugs and gift baskets.

Say what you like there is never a dull moment with the Doctor around, particularly when his mouth is open or if he feels he is under fire. Well welcome to the big boys club Doc. Here is where you get to play for keeps. Words hurled across the floor of Parliament from the Opposition benches don’t count for anything now. You have to perform on that side, Doc.

We are more than puzzled by a few incongruities. For months now the Minister has been vacillating on the way forward for tertiary health care for Barbadians. First there was to be a redevelopment of the QEH. The good Doctor was “very shortly” going to present a redevelopment plan for the QEH to Cabinet back in February. Well we don’t know if the plan was presented, but we have not seen any evidence of its implementation.

$150 million dollars was voted for the QEH in this year’s Estimates in March when the Minister again reminded us that wrong things would be put right. By April he was telling us that no decision had been taken on whether a new hospital would be built. In May he promised that he would open a new ward by month end to relieve some of the stress on the A&E. We are still waiting on that.

July was notable for the public showdown between the Minister and the NUPW during the Budget Debate. But it was notable for something else. At page 49 of the Budget the Prime Minister said: “In the meantime the Cabinet has agreed to the expansion of the QEH on its present site estimated to cost over $400 million and we have also begun to identify funding for this upgrade and expansion.” The Prime Minister reaffirmed this belief on Brass Tacks Sunday and threw in the Government’s desire to seek private funding from foreign philanthropists and Bajans overseas.

Yet the Minister says this week: “The plan is for a new purpose-built facility…. Government is selling its shares in the ICB and BNB to raise $200 million for the project and is looking to other sources for funds. Cabinet is to decide very, very, very soon on where the new hospital is to be built.” This would have to mean that Cabinet has already decided that a new Hospital is to be built, if all that is left for them to do is to settle on the new site.

So which is it really? Which David are we to believe? Are we getting a new hospital on a new site or are we getting a refurbished QEH? What is really happening here? Who is in charge? What did the Cabinet really decide? There can only be ONE Cabinet decision on this issue.

Barbadians want to know.