Sangster Int’l installs on-site ambulance after terminal tragedy

WESTERN BUREAU:

The Sangster International Airport now has an ambulance and medical team on location to better handle medical emergencies after a terminal tragedy last week left the Montego Bay-based facility with a black eye.

The Gleaner was alerted to the presence of the vehicle on Thursday, with a source indicating that it had also been on location all day on Wednesday.

Efforts to contact Shane Munroe, CEO of MBJ Airports Limited, and Sharon Hislop-Holt, marketing manager, to get information on the development and the full nature of the arrangements now in place for medical emergencies were unsuccessful.

The airport, which had a total passenger movement of more than 5.2 million in 2023, has faced increased scrutiny over the past week after 71-year-old Leroy Smith died in the terminal after falling while checking in for a flight to the United States.

A passenger who was present at the scene alleged that the bleeding Smith was left to lie on the floor for more than half an hour amid questions by airport staff about who would foot a reported US$400 ambulance bill to move him. The passenger said her offer to cover taxi fare to get the elderly man to hospital was rejected by officials, citing airport protocol.

Airport officials have indicated that it took seven minutes between the time they were notified of the emergency and when a nurse arrived at Smith’s side but did not indicate the timeline between the start of the emergency and their notification. They have blamed the unavailability of an ambulance at the Cornwall Regional Hospital or the Jamaica Fire Brigade’s St James Division for the response delay. They rejected the US$400 ambulance fee claim by the passenger and Smith’s nephew, who, reportedly, was asked via phone to confirm that the fee would be paid.

The airport added that it maintains a medical station through an arrangement with Hospiten, a private facility. Hospiten reportedly sent an ambulance to the scene 28 minutes after the airport was first notified of the emergency. However, they did not explain why Smith was still not taken to a medical facility.

His body was later taken to the morgue.

Earlier this week, Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton criticised MBJ for not having an ambulance stationed at the compound, saying that this must be mandatory going forward.

Yesterday, Transport Minister Daryl Vaz gave a directive for a doctor and an ambulance to be on call around the clock at the airport.

In a media statement, Vaz expressed concern over the lack of annual reviews of operations at the Montego Bay airport since MBJ Airport Limited took over in 2003. He noted that the same issue exists at Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, where a different concessionaire operates.

Vaz said he has ordered an immediate review of operations, adding that the Ministry of Health and Wellness would be included in the process.

“I have instructed Airports Authority of Jamaica that a doctor should be on call at the location, and an ambulance should be stationary at the airport, with a full complement of staff until such time as the review is completed,” said Vaz.

Yesterday, Airports Authority of Jamaica President and CEO Audley Deidrick said that he had been informed of changes being made to the medical services available at the airport on Wednesday.

“ ... The airport operator has already altered their arrangement with the ambulance providers and have, in fact, now secured permanent placement of the ambulance at the airport during operational hours,” said Deidrick.

Smith’s nephew is calling for a throrough investigation to determine who dropped the ball last Wednesday.

editorial@gleanerjm.com