The OKEU (Owen King European Union) Hospital crisis appears to be worsening.
St. Lucia Times has confirmed that six consultants have resigned this year, sparking renewed concerns over the state of the healthcare facility.
Opposition leader Allen Chastanet underscored the gravity of the situation during his United Workers Party (UWP) ‘Sunday Live’, streamed via social media.
“Six doctors resigned. I want that to sink in to all of us,” the UWP leader said, adding that not only doctors but also essential personnel from departments such as human resources, maintenance, accounts, and purchasing had left the hospital.
“It speaks to the insensitivity and lack of urgency in addressing these critical issues,” Chastanet emphasised, while accusing the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) government of failing to show empathy towards patients and healthcare workers.
The former Prime Minister painted a stark picture of the hospital’s current state, where resignations have left critical gaps in patient care.
“Imagine going to the hospital, there’s nobody doing the accounts, there’s nobody to register you, and the doctor that knows you and your history is not there,” Chastanet lamented.
He asserted that many in the community now fear seeking treatment at OKEU.
Prime Minister Phillip J. Pierre briefly addressed the issue during a cabinet briefing, confirming that he had heard about the resignations.
“I’m not happy about it, but people always leave to look for greener pastures. But again, that’s nothing new,” Pierre said.
However, concerns about the hospital’s ability to deliver critical services have been longstanding.
In a leaked letter dated July 31st, 2024, Dr. Merle Clarke, president of the Saint Lucia Medical and Dental Association (SLMDA), heavily criticised the state of the healthcare system and the board of directors at the Millennium Heights Medical Complex, which oversees OKEU.
Dr. Clarke’s letter described the problems as “too numerous to quantify.” Still, it highlighted the most pressing issues, including the lack of essential medical equipment and medications, severe overcrowding, and a troubling exodus of clinical staff.
“How are we to manage diabetes without glucometers? How are we expected to treat heart attacks without ECGs or basic drugs?” Clarke questioned in the letter.
She disclosed that the situation had reached a point where patients would rather die at home than face the inadequate conditions at OKEU. She further criticised the board’s inability to resolve these fundamental issues and demanded urgent action to prevent further loss of life.
With the resignations of essential staff continuing, the hospital is facing a staffing crisis that has sparked outrage across the island.
Many are calling on the government to address these longstanding issues before more lives are put at risk.
