Kingston Public Hospital Under Pressure

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Tufton pointed out that a number of the cases could have been avoided if Jamaicans would do more to resolve differences without resorting to violence and take better care on the roads. These, he said, would minimise the need to seek treatment for trauma cases.

The minister said arrangements were already made with other hospitals in the Corporate Area to relieve the KPH.

“The staff, the administrators, and the doctors who are providing leadership have instructions to coordinate; that has started with the University Hospital of the West Indies to take some of those referrals. I understand and we will, if we need to, increase that. I spoke to the chief medical officer at the University Hospital a short while ago and they are prepared,” he said. He added that he will also be having discussion with St Joseph’s and National Chest hospitals to assist.

On Tuesday, 30-year-old cook Julio Daniels and his 34-year-old brother-in-law Fabian Atkinson were shot dead by a group of men who stormed their home on Francis Lane in Rose Town, Kingston, about 4:40 am after kicking in the door.

A 14-year-old boy was shot in his hand and side, while a 12-year-old boy received a gunshot wound to his finger. Another man was also shot and injured in Hannah Town. All the injured had to be taken to KPH for treatment.

On Monday, 21-year-old Chevron Green was shot dead on Spanish Town Road in the vicinity of a gas station at Tavares Gardens — better known as Payne Land — at approximately 2:30 pm. It is reported that two other people were injured during the incident — one of them a 15-year-old boy.

On the heels of the Payne Land shooting, 32-year-old Joseph Kelly, also known as “Joe Bleach”; 20-year-old Nicholas Lindsey; and 17-year-old Daniqueca Graham were killed, while a 10-month-old baby was injured in Seiveright Gardens.

Police reported that shortly after 6:00 pm several people were standing on 25th Street, off Hill Avenue, when a Nissan motor car drove up and the occupants opened fire, hitting the four. They were taken to hospital where Kelly, Lindsey and Graham were pronounced dead.

Police believe the attack was an act of reprisal for a shooting incident earlier this year.

Another man was also killed in West Kingston Monday, bringing the day’s murder tally for Kingston and St Andrew to five.

Shortly after 8:00 Wednesday evening four people were also shot and injured in Waterhouse.

There was also a flare-up of violence in the Kingston East Division this week, but police could not say how many people were shot and injured in that section of the city.

Source: The Jamaica Observer