A call is being made for the Ministry of Health and Wellness to address reports of a shortage of ambulance service at the Cornwall Regional Hospital in St James.

Opposition Spokesperson on Health and Wellness, Dr Alfred Dawes, has pointed to reports which claim that of the five ambulances stationed at the hospital, only one is currently functional for what he termed “true emergency responses.”

Dawes also noted reports that a recently purchased ambulance at the hospital has been rendered out of service due to maintenance.

"The Ministry of Health and Wellness must confirm or deny these reports and take immediate action to service the ambulance so it can resume its vital role in responding to emergencies," charged Dawes in a statement today.

He said the situation is of grave concern.

"… The MOHW should prioritise the maintenance of essential healthcare equipment, such as ambulances, to prevent any more avoidable delays in emergency responses. Too often, we are reminded that poor maintenance of vehicles and equipment leads to lives lost and poor medical outcomes," said Dawes.

In light of the tragic incident at the Sangster International Airport last week which resulted in the death of an elderly man, Dawes said the Ministry should focus on maintaining essential healthcare equipment.

He said that the Ministry should to adopt a proactive approach to vehicle and equipment maintenance across all healthcare facilities in Jamaica.

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