publichospitalauthority

A 28-year-old sickle-cell disease patient recovering from surgery at Princess Margaret Hospital was reportedly left unattended overnight– staff did not change her or check on her until the next morning, according to her family, the Tribune reported.

Branyiell Hall underwent surgery on Wednesday and depended on nurses for care. In a voice note shared with family, she said: “From I come off of theatres yesterday, I was peeing,” Ms Hall said in the recording. “When I come on the ward, the night shift didn’t change my pamper or nothing. My whole bed was wet up and come this morning nobody change me and I just here laying in piss. This new nurse who come on this morning, they just finish trying to clean me up. Where I so painful, and she went and got me something for pain.”

Click here to listen to Branyiell Hall express agony while at PMH

Her sister Branae Russell posted to social media: “She didn’t sleep at all. She was up the whole night in pain, uncomfortable, and embarrassed. She kept calling for them, but nobody came. She felt disgusted lying in her own urine all night, and then the scent, it was terrible.”

The incident has reignited public concern over staffing shortages, working conditions, and overall care standards at the country’s main public hospital.

The Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) recently confirmed the system is missing roughly 500 registered nurses including critical-care, neonatal, dialysis, and midwifery roles.

Staff dissatisfaction, resignations, and reported supply and infrastructure issues like leaks, infestations, and overcrowding have been documented at PMH. A senior nurse who spoke publicly about these problems was recently suspended, although later reinstated after review.

What this means

Neglect allegations undermine public trust in the hospital system, and a lack of timely care threatens patient health.

With 500 fewer nurses and high staff turnover, the burden on remaining staff is enormous, which can result in errors, delays, reduced patient care quality, and burnout.

Reports of leaks, rodent issues, supply shortages, and overcrowding suggest infrastructure and resource failures.

When nurses raising concerns are suspended and when patients suffer, the public demands clarity: Who is responsible? What is being done? How will authorities ensure to raise the standard of care?

What to watch next

If PHA or the Ministry of Health launches a full independent review of the patient’s allegations, including staffing levels, incident logs, and care protocols, will we know the outcome?

Other patients or families have come forward with similar experiences, indicating a pattern and not just a single case.

Bottom line

This story is a symptom of a strained hospital system under pressure, where staffing shortages and infrastructure failures threaten patient care, especially for the most vulnerable.

The sobering comment by Former Health Minister Duane Sands has set off a public debate mixed with fury and uncertainty.

Sands on a local radio station, Guardian Radio, “The Hitback,” with Nahaja Black, said the heightened case of coronavirus in the country has placed doctors in a position to decide who lives and who dies.

The earnest reality of the pandemic has caused doctors to place patients with other life-threatening diseases like heart disease and cancer on the back burner, causing some to die.

With a high degree of certainty, the former minister said, “I understand the implications of my comment…that is happening now.”

Other countries have done the same

Physicians in the United States of America, Canada, and Italy have already been forced to make such moral decisions.

These countries have larger populations and the unexpected wave of the virus has filled their hospitals beyond capacity. Back in early March, Italy’s health system said there were too many patients for each one to receive adequate care. So, the Italian College of Anesthesia, Analgesia, Resuscitation and Intensive Care (SIAARTI)  published guidelines that doctors should follow as cases worsen.

These patients should be left to die as they place demands on scarce medical resources, according to the document written by a group of medical doctors.

• Patients that are old
• Patients with comorbidities
• Patients who require intensive care

They are guided by the utilitarian approach which stresses the principle, “the greatest good for the largest number,” which would ensure that patients with the highest chance of survival will access intensive care.

Doctors in the Bahamas are reaching that point

When health facilities are full to capacity, physicians are placed in a position where they are unable to manage and provide care for a patient who may need respiratory assistance.

Dr. Nikkiah Forbes, director of the Infectious Disease Programme said she has not personally seen a patient die because of the ability to provide care, but the country is close.

“If we continue beyond capacity, those difficult decisions may have to be made,” she said.

Health workers confirmed that the Bahamas is in a surge and the system is being pushed beyond capacity, emphasizing that the ability to provide care in that environment is challenging.

Just one day after Prime Minister Hubert Minnis announced a minimum of 2-weeks lockdown for the country, nurses and doctors refused to show up for work and many walked off the job on Tuesday, citing lack of protocols for safety, as COVID-19 numbers continually climb.

Bahamas Doctors Union President Dr Melisande Bassett told reporters, “We are at a tipping point where our staff members have become compromised because of the overwhelming number of patients with suspected COVID symptoms presenting to A&E.”

She said all of the COVID-19 isolation rooms are occupied, therefore patients are on A&E floor.

Dr. Bassett reassured that the actions taken by nurses and doctors are not a strike.

“This is not a sickout. We want to help the Bahamian people, but we have to do it safely and sensibly. We are waiting for this situation to be rectified. Until that happens, you can’t ask anyone to put themselves in harm’s way,” she said.

Dr. Minnis, on yesterday evening, revealed that COVID-19 numbers have placed a strain on bed capacity and health workers, as a result, the 2-week lockdown was necessary.

In recent days, the country has seen massive and rapid increases in cases, with figures presently standing at 679 cases–572 active cases with 22 people in hospital.

Last month, Dr. Bassett complained that the hospital was without interns and short over 30 doctors.

She took issue with the Public Hospital Authority’s failure to complete the process for hiring new interns, saying it “has certainly put a strain on departments that are scrambling to find additional help to care for patients. Could you imagine the fallout if we have a surge of COVI-19 cases?” she asked at the time.

It is hoped that the country can get a quick and sturdy grasp of the coronavirus pandemic.

Photo Credit: Eye Witness News