Mcselva,
This is a hard post to make since I cannot pretend to imagine the pain you are going through having your Mom pass here in Negril. But living daily here for the last 20 years, I have had to deal with friends passing away while they were here and how the system in Jamaica operates. It is never easy to have to handle a situation like that. I know you are hurting.
The ambulance in Negril at the Fire Station services Negril and also serves the surrounding areas. That means that the ambulance also handles the far back roads, the far West End and even the Orange Bay area. It goes where ever it is needed.
The one hour time period is a terrible amount of time to have to wait and minutes seem like hours during those moments - but the typical ambulance run can take hours to handle from beginning to end. When your Mother had passed, the situation no longer was that of a medical emergency but that of the police and Medical Examiner that Hille141 so expertly detailed. The doctor who showed up may have been the one that contacted the police and the Medical Examiner's office.
While the ambulance in Negril has already saved the lives of mnay people in the Negril area, even assisting at least two of the boardies here on the Negril Message Boad, this why I am so very pleased that you posted here and talked with Winthrope Wellington! You have brought light to not only the need of another ambulance but have also pointed out the importance of Negril Interational Hospital project which would be the improved infrastructure that Jamerican71 just posted about. I will again post the NIH's Mission, Goals and links to be able to donate to this so needed cause.
"Since we live here and are all to familiar with this situation having to deal with it on a daily basis, you can be certain that you are not alone in wanting to see better for Jamaica. To that end, Winston Wellington, the owner of Travellers Beach Resort, who was instrumental in obtaining the ambulance for Negril has started the Negril International Hospital (NIH) project. Here is some information gleaned from their website:
MISSION
Our mission is to provide thoughtful, professional and complete medical treatments which specialize in emergency care, and surgical procedures. This will aid both the Jamaican nationals, and the over one million tourists that visit Negril each year. We also strive to provide a 24 hour emergency based hospital facility that will enable patients to receive specialized and urgent health care at all hours of the day. Furthermore, we will have a professional, compassionate staff that will cater to all patients’ needs, providing comprehensive medical treatments for emergency and surgical care.
GOALS
The Hospital is designed to become a recognized leader in its specialized field; exceling in emergency, clinical, and surgical services. The facility will feature over 100 acres of clinical space which will include a state of the art emergency room, a cardiology lab, and a radiology department. In addition to several operating rooms. Moreover, the hospital will feature 100 beds for in-patient care. Currently, there are no private hospitals in Negril to fully service both the inhabitants of Negril and the one million tourists that travel there annually, and the Negril International Hospital aims to fill this void.
http://www.negrilhospital.org/
There are links on the site to donate directly to this ambitious cause, which would vastly improve the medical services available in and around Negril. Donating to this worthy cause would probably be the best way to bring about the much needed services for visitors and locals alike. The first phase is projected to be opening in 2015. The Noel Holmes Hospital in Lucea was just given 18 new beds by the NIH project in January, and the Sav La Mar Hospital had previously received 25 new beds. Here was the article in the Gleaner from February 16th:
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/2...western92.html
The NIH contact information and Board of Governors and Advisory Board are listed below:
CONTACT
Negril International Hospital
200-09 Hollis Avenue :: Queens New York 11412
Voice: 718-753-9920 :: Fax: 718-230-7831
Travellers Beach Resort,
Norman Manley Blvd
Negril Westmoreland
Jamaica West Indies
Tel: 876-957-9308
Email: bill@negrilhospital.org
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Winston Wellington, NIH Chairman
Bill Tingling, CEO
Wayne De-Leon CFO, Treasurer
Dr. Rudolph Willis, Secretary
Carl Reid, Paramedic
Dr. David Garwood, MD
Dennis Hawthorne
Elaine Allen Bradley RN, BSC
Patrick Fletcher
Barry Westcarr
Dr. Eric Shoenfeld, MD
Dr. Richard Constable, MD
Winthrope Wellington, B.S., M.B.A.
Dr. Robert Clarke, MD
Angela Sutherland
ADVISORY BOARD
Dr. Robert Clarke, MD
Dr. Winston Davidson, MD
Christine Chadwick
Dr. Winston Price, MD
Dr. Una Clarke
Edward Stephenson
Ken Cooney
John Brown
Karl & Fay Rodney
Telieth Drummond
Winfield Wellington, B.S.
Wingate Wellington, B.S., CPA
Keith Dwaynie
Sandy Vasceannie
Joyce Perry
Fitzroy Hall"
