The Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s (QEH) pharmacy is still struggling to make up the backlog as a result of transitioning to a new system.
On Friday people waiting on medications were complaining bitterly about the wait, saying hours of waiting resulted in no progress in some cases. They said they were told everyone who pulled a ticket numbered greater than 100 would have to return today (yesterday).
A dejected-looking Leslie Morgan was hoping against hope as he held a ticket numbered 102.
“I got here at 18 past eight this morning. I pulled the number 102. The numbers started with 900 and started over from 1 000. So I left, went from the airport to Wellhouse, St Philip; St George; and Haggatt Hall, St Michael, then came back here around 3:15 p.m., only to hear they stopping after 100. I’m in shock; I don’t even know why I’m still sitting here. Looks like I have to come back tomorrow,” he said.
Around 4 p.m., customer no. 69 was being seen.
A woman said she had number 79, but only because a stranger left.
“I actually had 106; I’m only getting through because somebody gave me their ticket because they couldn’t wait anymore,” she said.
The woman recounted arriving at the hospital around 8 a.m. last month, only to be told the day’s numbers were already distributed and to come back “very early” the next morning. She said this was a pattern as she had also been turned around in May.
Holding ticket no. 97, Richard Tull felt fortunate to be among the first 100. He said he had been waiting for around three hours and normally would have already left, but was told to hold on. He said it was not the first time he had waited for long periods, adding he had left and come back “many times” in the past.
Curtis Springer said the ticket number was 110, so it was unlikely he was going to get through.
“Sometimes you get through well, but recently they got a problem. I understand what they are saying, but it can get a little slow. Maybe they need a couple more pharmacists, or they need to put in a shift system,” he said.
A woman, who requested anonymity, said they arrived at 8:30 a.m. and left to come back twice.
QEH communications specialist Shane Sealy, in response to queries, directed the paper to the July 13 broadcast of the QEH Pulse Radio Show, where the issue was highlighted by Director of Clinical and Diagnostic Services, Dr The Most Honourable Corey Forde.
Forde said they had some initial challenges. However, he said this still left a backlog they continued to work through and revealed solutions.
“You’ll hear shortly about some extended hours to try to compensate for that. What we’ve already done is engage pharmacists within the community who have stepped up to help QEH. Actually, one is working as we speak to try to beef up the pharmacy, understanding there’s going to be a backlog. Although we may be up to our normal numbers, we expect that at times we’ll have these backlogs,” he said.
The director also advised Barbadians to be responsible and not wait until their medications were about to run out to renew their prescriptions, not to take multiple tickets for their friends, and not to verbally abuse pharmacy staff. (CA)