Hanover health officials say no problems at Noel Holmes Hospital

WESTERN BUREAU:

Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA) officials are denying claims by a councillor in the Hanover Municipal Corporation (HMC), that he has personal experience of a shortage of bed linen at the Noel Holmes Hospital, during a visit to that facility recently.

The councillor complained at the recent HMC monthly meeting that he had an occasion to visit his aunt at the health facility, and because of the temperature at the time, she needed a blanket and was told that there was none available to give to her.

“I have a concern. Last week I went to the (Noel Holmes) hospital because my aunt was in the hospital. She asked for a blanket and was told by a nurse that none are available because all blankets were dirty. How could a big hospital like that not have any (clean) blanket?” the councillor questioned.

He stated that in the days following his experience at the hospital, he observed a WRHA vehicle travelling in the Hopewell area of the parish, and when he queried about it, he was told that the vehicle was going to the Round Hill Hotel to pick up the laundry that the hotel is assisting the hospital in doing.

The stated experience elicited comments from other councillors, at which point it was revealed that the laundry equipment at the Noel Holmes Hospital has not been working for some time now. Information came to light that at one point, the Hanover Infirmary was also assisting the Noel Holmes Hospital with its laundry.

“The fact that a place like the hospital has a washer that has not been working for some time now is a very sad situation,” one councillor said, adding that it is far from an ideal situation when hospital linen is being washed with other linen, because of the risks involved.

The Gleaner contacted the WRHA, and was told by its acting parish manager, Carlington McLennon, that the WRHA is aware that the laundry at the Noel Holmes Hospital is not up and running, but the facility has been getting assistance in doing its laundry from the Hanover Infirmary and the Round Hill Hotel.

“In respect to whether or not there is an issue with the (hospital linen) I would say no, because although our laundry is down, as a hospital we would normally have at least seven days supply of linen in stock, so I find it very unusual that somebody would want a blanket and we don’t have any available to give them,” he stated.

Pointing out that he would have to confirm the actual date with his administrator, McLennon argued that the Noel Holmes Hospital laundry should be up and running in short order.

“The washing machine there will be repaired, and we should also be getting a new washing machine,” he stated, noting that when it (the laundry) is back up and running it will be more equipped that before, which should prevent any further problems.

While the HMC has taken a decision to invite a representative from the WRHA to its monthly meetings to interact with the local authority with regard to what is happening at the main health facility in the parish, McLennon told The Gleaner that he was sorry that he was not present at the last meeting of the corporation to clear up the misunderstandings that were evident. He said that either himself or some other senior personnel from the WRHA will be present at the next meeting of the HMC.