Backlog of Elective Surgeries Being Reduced

Jamaica’s backlog of elective surgeries was recently reduced by 20, thanks to a batch of nurses from the United States who worked alongside local surgeons at the Noel Holmes Hospital in Lucea, Hanover, under Government’s ‘CODE CARE’ programme.

The 12-month special initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Health and Wellness, aims at clearing the backlog of elective surgeries in the island’s hospitals due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) and reduce wait time.

This is to be achieved through public-private partnerships, procurement of surgical equipment, nursing missions, project management and the rehabilitation of operating theatres at some public hospitals.

The team of six nurses, four of whom are of Jamaican descent, represented the first mission under the project and spent a week at the Type C hospital conducting surgeries relating to cataracts, oral cancer, sinus cancers, thyroid and more.

On Tuesday (December 6), the six women – Claudette Coleman, Yvonne Goulbourne, Shannon Greenberg, Arlene Dyer-Salkey, Fredrecker Adams and Feruza Esanova – were honoured for their week of valued service by Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, at Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa in St. James.

“Today represents for us another significant milestone under the CODE CARE programme, with this one being a pioneer. You (nurses) are the trendsetters; you are the exemplary group; you are the ones that we want to benchmark against, and you are the ones who we want to show the virtues of the programme, to explain and give testimonials about your experience,” Dr. Tufton said.

“The cost in the private space averages about $428,200 plus per surgery. The cost of getting this team here and benefiting from their expertise to support our doctors, that cost comes up to $169,400. So, today we are recognising this team of six who arrived on our shores. They signed up, listened and responded to the call,” he added.

Dr. Tufton outlined that, to date, some 164 surgeries have been performed under the CODE CARE programme. He said these were done at Bustamante Hospital for Children, Hospiten Montego Bay, GWest Medical and Noel Holmes Hospital.

He said the aim is to get that number up to well over 200 surgeries by the end of the financial year through further nursing missions and public-private partnerships.

“What the CODE CARE programme is doing and what our working visitors are doing is relieving pain and suffering to hundreds and, hopefully, thousands of Jamaicans who have been waiting for an extended period,” said Dr. Tufton.

“We do anticipate that more teams will come in, starting, if not before Christmas, then in the new year. Combined with the public-private partnerships and the repairs to our local operating theatres, we will see those numbers multiply in the months to come leading into the end of the financial year,” he added.

Ms. Coleman, who replied on behalf of the overseas nursing team, said the experience was “awesome”, as she was given the opportunity to meet the needs of patients who have long been on the waiting list for care.

“That is what reminds me of the reason I became a nurse in the first place, and I thank you for the opportunity to do this,” she added.