During Tuesday’s sitting of Parliament, Moses Jn Baptiste, Minister for Health, Wellness, and Elderly Affairs, made an impassioned plea to the public to end the troubling practice of abandoning loved ones at hospitals during the Christmas season.
The minister highlighted how this habit places undue strain on already overburdened healthcare facilities.
“It is Christmas time, Mr. Speaker, and it’s always a very challenging period for our health professionals,” Jn Baptiste stated. “At the hospitals, especially in the emergency departments, Christmas is an incredibly busy time.”
The minister disclosed a disheartening trend. According to him, relatives bring family members to medical facilities during the holiday season, only to leave them behind until after Christmas.
This practice, he noted, has been observed at major healthcare institutions, including the Owen King EU (OKEU) Hospital, St. Jude Hospital, and even the private Tapion Hospital.
“It is very unfortunate and sad, Mr. Speaker, that we see an increase in the number of patients brought to hospitals during Christmas, only for their families to disappear until after the holidays,” he lamented.
Jn Baptiste emphasised the ripple effects of such behavior, pointing out that it leads to overcrowded facilities and deprives emergency cases of critical bed space.
He also revealed that some individuals have been abandoned at hospitals for years, turning healthcare institutions into long-term care homes.
“It is very clear what is happening,” he continued. “I want to encourage Saint Lucians: Christmas is a time for caring and compassion. Let us not shift the responsibility of caring for our loved ones onto the hospitals. What we are doing is placing unnecessary pressure on these facilities and occupying beds meant for emergencies.”
This practice he describes as “long-stay” patients—those who remain in hospital beds due to being unclaimed or abandoned by their families.
He reminds the guilty individuals of the spirit of the season, urging citizens to demonstrate genuine care and support for their family members. “Christmas is a time when we must truly care for each other,” the Minister declared.
AA ST LUCIA HAVE A HOSPITAL ?? ..WOW..
Hello, welcome to the real world. In the UK the hospital admissions rose dramatically in the week proceeding Christmas.
Loved one’s were dumped in the hospitals because they got in the way of the festivities. How immoral is that?????
This behaviour is totally disgusting. Just remember one day you will be old and helpless.
Sad!
Where is his evidence? Messier just ehme parle enitil
To rectify that practice, there should be an above regular charge for each day a patient stays over. We tolerate too much bull, which causes abuse, and incoherence.
Hardly “Loved Ones” if that’s how they are treated. What a disgrace! Heartless humans…
Tapion? That hospital well happy when you spend a night. Recommending overnight stays just for the thrill of it!
These guys are masters of deflection. Just like King can’t comment meaningfully on health car but will come with this foolishness! We would like to know whether the Mental wellness facility was shutdown! Come talk about that!
I went to school with u – uwi 1995, however, you are a HUGE disappointment!!! I expected you to be more practical and empathetic. Additionally, all of a sudden you turn snobbish and arrogant too
Most St. Lucians are heartless and they tend not to care for their loved ones or elders. However, they will fight each other and chop for land and for house, for sheep and for goat – some of you are DISGUSTING and love to get over and reap where you all did not sow.
I left St. Lucia several years ago and I do not associate period. Reason – I don’t deal with ungrateful, ignorant and wicked people – trust me I have the stories I can shared – this reasoning is solely based on experiencing being around St. Lucians…most of which are malvataayes, envious and greedy – honor your parents and your elders –
Most St. Lucians have an entitlement mentality – they are certainly not ready for the world stage outside of St. Lucia. I pay $165US bi-weekly for medical insurance, plus $50US biweekly for dental and $50US biweekly for vision. This does not include what we call co-pays for physicians and specialist as well as deductibles. It is certainly not easy and things are difficult all over the world in every country. However, some of you Lucians believe that things are hard only in St. Lucia – give me a break.
In the meantime everywhere pan beat – you all want to be there – jazz, carnival etc. etc. and then you want family and friends abroad to pay your bills – what NERVE – please stay away and don’t even call me. Help yourself and take care of your needs.
@ Jay
The culture of dependency fostered by governments has brought us to this sorry point. Generations of people who refuse to go the extra mile because a sly politician will step in (taxpayers money) to cushion life’s up and downs. A culmination of years created the feeble citizen.
Someone overseas sent a barrel. The receiver of the barrel confronts the sender demanding why that barrel was only 3/4 filled. Another… someone comes from a flight overseas. He gave someone two gifts from his suitcase. It was insufficient for the receiver because she has more than two children. This mentality of entitlement is alive and well. Our parents and grandparents would cringe if they heard these stories. Those older folks worked brutally hard to make pittance for meals.