Health minister warns against bed sores

The Princess Margaret Hospital

Nurses have been given a stern warning from their boss about the issue of bed sores at the Princess Margaret Hospital.

Health Minister Julius Timothy, has said no patient at the country’s main hospital should suffer from these sores.

Bed sores, also known as pressure ulcers are skin lesions which can be caused by friction, humidity, temperature, continence, medication, shearing forces, age and unrelieved pressure.

Timothy said in an interview with the media recently, that when he took up office, several patients at PMH suffered from bed sores.

“They don’t get bed sores at Green Hill, they don’t get bed sores at the Infirmary, and they should not get bed sores at the hospital. They can come from home with their bed sores but we must cure them,” Timothy stressed.

According to Timothy nurses and ward aids have been trained to move even the heaviest persons and hence bed sores should not be an issue.

“Once people get bed sores it shows a lack of care. It shows that we do not do our jobs carefully,” he said.

He pointed out that recently patients were bed sore free, but warned “it is happening again”.

The health minister noted that when it comes to health, care is important. “You can train people, you can do everything possible but with health it involves care. You (medical professionals) cannot just say you are working for a salary…” he added.

He also said the right attitude on the job is essential to the quality of service.

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Disclaimer: The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of DominicaNewsOnline.com and its parent company or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by DominicaNewsOnline.com. We never censor based on political or ideological points of view, but we do try to maintain a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.

We will delete comments that:

  • contain any material which violates or infringes the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or are purely ad hominem attacks
  • a reasonable person would consider abusive or profane
  • contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law
  • promote prejudice or prejudicial hatred of any kind
  • refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty
  • contain links to "chain letters", pornographic or obscene movies or graphic images
  • are off-topic and/or excessively long

See our full comment/user policy/agreement.

68 Comments

  1. Fate
    January 6, 2013

    According to Cecil, where are your ethics? you have put your cob webs all in the open. You have a resposibilty to your institution. You are not a clypsonian but you are acting like one.

  2. deducer
    January 6, 2013

    That means no salary increases for the health care workers. Is he supporting Parry that they are only 20% productive. And is the minister also implying that the hospital has the man power, equipments and materials etc. Oh no,nhe did not say so. The minister better lock himself in one of the hospital seatless, flood toilets and just stay there! Taking a page from austrie.

    Why does DNO have the minister’s article near archiving. By tomorrow it will not be on the front page. There are other articles which came after.

  3. diamond girl
    January 5, 2013

    :-x

  4. Anonymous
    January 5, 2013

    i totally agree my dad went in there for a week with no bed sores and got out with three praise God my mom got it cured in a week,he had one previously from there stayed ther for couple months just took him home on xmas hoklidays and it was cured while he spent 5months at the hospital it couldnt be treated.

  5. dee
    January 4, 2013

    Thanks Mr. Minister I hope this message eliminates the bed sores problem.

  6. leroy
    January 4, 2013

    Mr. Timothy, i am so glad that you are speaking out of patients care and concern. Which tells me someone must have express their concern to your office. I hope your words will company some action. Because l am very troubled by the kind care some patients are getting in the
    of care patients

  7. diamond girl
    January 4, 2013

    alyou dont know how hard we have to work with the limited resources that tim tim providing.. begin the year on a bad note and see how it will end up! stupes

  8. D/can to de bone (fo
    January 4, 2013

    Thanks Mr Timothy it time to talk tought . You got a job to do and so do the nurses.

  9. tumble, backkick
    January 4, 2013

    All over the world is the same chat. The chances of landing a good job is small and your dream job is minimal. We always accuse people in professions of doing it for the money. The silly question is how many of us work for free and when was the last time we volunteered a few hours to help our community? Pawol a bosh se pa met. Tim what have you done for Da lately?

  10. Jay
    January 4, 2013

    Decubitus ulcers can be lessen by applying corn starch to the patients cotton bed sheets, re-positioning every two hours, jelly pressure pillows for the hips in heavy patients, and keeping incontinent patients clean and dry at all times and their sheet free of kinks. Finally to the minister before judging the nurses, why not train a few nursing assistants to assist with care and let the nurses handle the designation according to the work load and point of care needed.

    • Good idea
      January 4, 2013

      They need to recruit a good many ward aids too. But the big question is: Who is going to do the interview in this corrupt land.

  11. anonymous2
    January 4, 2013

    Bed sores are a result of not turning the patient frequently enough. Turning patients is not a fun job depending on their weight and size and it is time consuming. However, it must be done. Get some big male nurses for this duty or some strong women.

  12. January 4, 2013

    I can understand the minister is concerned, but he should know better than that. That is not an topic for the media. He need to go to those concern and discuss the problem and find ways to solve the problem. Coming an express himself on DNQ doesn’t prove he is doing a good job. Maybe he should think of getting some air mattress for those who cannot reposition themselves.

  13. not a herd follower
    January 3, 2013

    Another sign of everything in this country is moving in the wrong direction. It is totally unacceptable that patients at the PMH should be getting bedsores at the PMH. This situation undermines confidence in the hospital. The management of the hospitaL SHOULD TAKE ALL THE NECESSARY MEASURES to eradicate this. And the Minister must hold them accountable.

  14. jade
    January 3, 2013

    Nurses we know that where there are bed sores there is lack of care. you are professionals. Do your jobs. Nursing is a dedicated profession.

  15. nurse
    January 3, 2013

    Two hourly turns,treating pressure areas and proper nutriton is still the best approach.So colleagues,this is not very nice to hear,focus on quality care. We are too sophicated these days,get back to basics.
    Thanks

  16. thickness4so
    January 3, 2013

    those nurses in that hospital just working for a pay most of them dont care those the people that are in the hospital makin it worst most of these nurses are very young so that explains it all. Nursing and teaching is a job that is guaranteed after graduating frm DSC so that says we hav a lot of unwanted nurses that are nurses…i kno someone who died frm very very bad bed sores in the hospital and wen she left home all she had was a bad toe

  17. Rn
    January 3, 2013

    I think the minister need to educate himself a bit more on the cause of decubiti. There are a wide range of reasons pts suffer from “bed sore”, some of which are not under the control of any health care provider. So to say that there should be no bedsore in a hospital is a bit reckless!

    • January 4, 2013

      To develop a bed sore in a medical facility is unthinkable,if it occured rarely that is different.,but for several patients to develop bed sores in the same institution at about the same time raises many Questions . the 1st of which
      is Where has COMPASSIONATE CARE GONE and what are the clinical supervisors doing about rounding on the floors/wards/?.The 2nd is DO the present nurses have the equipment to do their work OR simply put demonstrates a laissez faire attitude

      • Caks
        January 4, 2013

        Do we know the condition on these PTs prior to admission? A person who is malnourished with decrease albumin has a high risk of developing skin breaks! There are manny underling condition which will predispose an individual to bed sores! People who are at the end off life will have horrible bed sores and not even the most advanced hospital in the USA can’t stop them, so how can the minister say there should be ” no bed sore ” ? I know because for the last 20 yrs I have been working in some very good ICUs in North America !

      • Truth dat!!
        January 5, 2013

        @Caks…………..I wish i could shake ur big toe!! Some people don’t seem to understand that!!

  18. Track lover
    January 3, 2013

    I agree Mr Minister they do not get bed sores at the Justin Fadipe Centre neither and many patients who were transferred from the PMH with bedsores went home bed sore free after after some weeks of treatment at the JFC

  19. nursing in d uk
    January 3, 2013

    Fully agree with d statement however pressure relieving mattresses n cushions are needed in d prevention of pressure sores, no mention were made of those by d minister .

    • Anonymous
      January 3, 2013

      I totally agree I presently work of a company who manufactures pressurw relieving mattresses and cushions. And sometimes rhw basics are not enough.

  20. Blue Ray
    January 3, 2013

    Mr Minister got it spot on

  21. Fil
    January 3, 2013

    Mr. Timothy is right for his concern of the patients but many times the bed sores are caused by the type of mattress that on the patient’s bed. For example my sister for bed ridden for over three years she had an air mattress thanks God she never had a bed sore but was positioned four times a day.

    • Jay
      January 4, 2013

      Re-positioning four times a day is not enough, at least every two hours max is more like it.

  22. new york
    January 3, 2013

    well said. bedsore is an ugly thing. We as health care workers should make sure that our patients do not end up with it.Turning and positioning and proper diet. Get families involve we know the nurses are busy.

    • observer
      January 4, 2013

      While we say that families should and can assist (100% agree) but even while some patients who have
      developed bed sores are hospitalized…the nurses should use their descretion in allowing the family members which are willing to stay on, over the visiting time allowed, to help manage these patients because it is surely a big task for the nurses and ward aids alone to move and care these patients was they would like to, especially when the wards are usually overcrowded on a daily basis

  23. bee
    January 3, 2013

    Good move Mr. Minister thanks for looking out for the patients. I work in a hospital too some of the nurses take the job just for the money but not to care for the patient. There is no Florance Nightingale in the word of today.

  24. Rol
    January 3, 2013

    Portsmouth hospital is d worst.

  25. January 3, 2013

    Here he goes again! Julie garcon stick to financing and accounting.
    The song careless whisper by george M and Wharm
    has a line”ignorance is kind.”
    Look like Timothy is idle that’sthe function of the head of the units as you do not have a clue as to the physiopatholgy of bed sores. Here you go wanting to bully people who know more than and what you may never know for the rest of ur life.
    Man do like ur former boss should be doing go throw stones in the sea in Marigot’s bay.

    • Safer to be unknown
      January 3, 2013

      Hmmmmmmmmmmm, not only here he goes again you know!! I say HERE THEY GO AGAIN!!!!!!!!!! Yet again there is a minister of government ACCUSING the working people of being SLACK!!!!!!!!!!! Yet again, laying them blame at the feet of the working people as they have with the problems in other areas of the economy. Every time there is a problem with performance, they seem to throw that blame at the feet of the people rather than at the feet of government and its leadership. Wow!!!!!!!! No one is speaking out in their defence…….amazing!!!!!!!

  26. colorblind
    January 3, 2013

    Wise words Mr. Minister.

  27. yes i
    January 3, 2013

    they do get it at the infirmary. correction

  28. J.J.John-Charles
    January 3, 2013

    Although my better half who is an RN agrees with Tim.Also the hospital where she works have all the equipments to turn the patients at ease. Notwithstanding the patients at Green Hill and Infirmary, maybe many of them can move around, and are there not because of any illness, but just aging.When they are really sick and are unable to move,of course we all know,,, PMH.
    I am not saying the nurses should give their second best.

  29. Repose En Paix
    January 3, 2013

    Finally a statement on what has indeed killed a number of persons even if there would be no official statistics on this. I went through the death of a family member who was admitted to the hospital, was neglected and was sent back home after a while full of bed sores. An “egg-foam” mattress was bought to aid in her recovery at home but the sores had been too advanced for a recovery. In no-time she was back in the hospital and died a few days later.

    Neglect, neglect, neglect…and our case was definitely highlighted for Mr Timothy because he knew her very well.

    RIP J

    • Peeping Tom
      January 3, 2013

      Sounds like an opportunity to shake up the system…sue someone, sue the State! Let us hold those responsible accountable.

  30. Stupes
    January 3, 2013

    Whilst I agree to some extent,I wonder if Mr. Timothy ever met with Pmh nurses to discus the issue,before publishing it as a news item to the media!Want to make it seem like nurses aren’t doing their jobs entirely.Charade allu them ministers like.Whilst it is true that bedridden patients should be turned at least once or twice on every shift,it can be quite impossible most times when you have a 19-bed capacity ward with 27 patients and 6 beds in the center of the ward!Is that for allu to check.There can only be so much two nurses can do when the work-load is so overwhelming.So quit acting like nurses just sit around doing nothing and allowing patients to get bed sores.Most times when nurses need the assistance from the orderlies,they are always busy because all wards are always so over-filled.Patients themselves take pity on nurses.Mr. Timothy just sitting on his big,black office chair behind statistics and not facing reality.Patients can’t be turned as often when all big shot who are admitted to pmh have to get their own private nurse…nurses they have to take from the same over-crowded wards,leaving two nurses to kill themselves.So…turning patients every 4hrs,when there are up to 10 bed-ridden patients on a ward,along with 17 others,is only a fantasy.

    • you think
      January 3, 2013

      from reading your comment i can tell that you are a nurse. while i understand what you have just said, i have heard nurses in coversations and i don’t think that its the over filled wards that prevent them from turning the patients but rather their don’t care atttudes. 70% of nurses only care about the salary at the end of the month. the prefer to sit and gossip abou the patients illness and who visited them, what state the underwear the family brought is in and how many children the patient has and how often they visist him…. zor por kor paway!!!

      • Way Papa
        January 3, 2013

        You see now the good-hearted nurses suffer a bad name because of those who slack.One day people will actually say something good about a nurse wi,alas.it seems all nurses bad man?

    • Anonymous
      January 3, 2013

      If only we lived in that fantasy world you speak of I would support you but we all have been to PMH at some point in time to see with our own eyes how unfortunately the majority of nurses now do not take the time to attend to patients (especially the bed-ridden ones).

      As soon as you enter the wards you almost always find nurses at the front sitting (not doing anything constructive like admin work…). Sorry to generalize but to the few good nurses out there we see you doing your jobs (keep it up).

    • AP
      January 3, 2013

      This is what I was thinking. Why not address it privately, instead of making a blanket public statement like this. Even though it may be true, but this can have irreparable damage to the image of the hospital… and Dominica as a whole. But he’s correct, this is an indication of gross neglect…

      • Way Papa
        January 3, 2013

        Exactly my point!I do not disagree,if something is wrong,it should not be ignored but addressed,but don’t’t make public statements like that,as if you sending words.Find yourself to PMH and meet with nurses to address the issue.Why should a nurse have to read such statements on DNO from her “Boss”?I wonder if he realizes that it will bring a poor reflection way back to him as the health minister.People all over the world are reading these news articles and he is making out PMH to be the worst hospital just by these strong words.Shame

    • ISLANDGIRL
      January 3, 2013

      I am a nurse, I know for sure, all the 27 patients do not require turning,please priortorize.

      • Is me!
        January 4, 2013

        I wonder where you work nurse…..Cuz the person did not say that all patients are bed ridden. I know that all patients require vital signs, medications, baths, investigations to be done and the list goes on. So picture 2 or 3 nurses on a ward with 27 patients, yes the patients who require turns will be turned but not every 2 hours eh! BE REALISTIC, nurses are not machines!!!

  31. jlowa
    January 3, 2013

    true ,true. true mr minister fire their back side if they dont listen

  32. Shameless
    January 3, 2013

    Finally, Timtim has made me believe that he is still competent. Great words of encouragement to the public that you are working. I love our nurses and thankful for their selfless service but that bad attitude that has permeated the healthcare system need to be put in check. Those who don’t comply, found wanting or wants to work simply for the salary needs to go find a job elsewhere where such perks come with the environment.

    Assertive, NOT Agressive!

    • Way Papa
      January 3, 2013

      What salary nuh by the way?When Nurses go for loans at the banks,the banks teller are always left shocked,with their jaws dropping,finding it hard to believe the embarassing figures they see on the nurse’s salary slips!Some employees of Clear Harbour even get paid better than nurses.When a nurse receives a measly $2167 and they still have to deduct about $190 for taxes and S.S,the rest is for morgage,bills,vehicle,kid etc,month end is never a joyous moment for a nurse na.So I want to see which nurse in Dca who is working just for the salary.Stupes

      • wrong
        January 4, 2013

        The bank tellers who make remark or expression should be fired. That means they were not trained properly. These are the ones who do make the clients information confidential.

    • January 4, 2013

      Ya ! Wait until they are fired you’ll replace dem with Haitian & Chinese nurses? hahahahaaha.
      Good luck on dat one.Fire al Natives and replace dem with the aforementioned. They the Admin will not lose power those they employ from foreign will vote dem in.Similar case in Antigua D/cans replace Antiguian workers D/cans become employed vote for the PIP to solidify the party’s stay in power.Yhen you have conflict, hate amongst caribbean national. Good luck one caribbean.

  33. January 3, 2013

    It is not only at the Princess Hospital that insufficient health care of the sick is being metted out. It is presently happening also at the Portsmouth hospital for I can testify to that. I have a friend who have been ill at her home for years and with no bed sores. Since being admitted at the Portsmouth hospital sometine in June within a week she got bed sores and has been in the hospital for over six months now since the bed sores became an issue for the family she has remained hospitalized. Take a close look at patient care at the Portsmouth hospital also Mr. Minister.

    • rescue 911
      January 3, 2013

      when we talkin about hospital we not even talking about portsmouth.(waste of time hospital)cleaners,and all think they are nurses.

  34. lee
    January 3, 2013

    Mr. Timothy I agree with you 101% no patient should suffer with bed sores after being admitted in a hospital. They were taken there with no bed sores why should they get it while under the care of nurses, aids and doctors. Good move protect the safety and welfare of the patients.

  35. Peacock
    January 3, 2013

    The issue with bed sores has been a recurring problem recently. Persons coming into the hsopital with NO bedsores, after two to three days, have bed sores. And makes it worse, the manner in which the patients are moved, turned or ventilated by the aides and nurses leaves alot to worry about. The patients are lifted and toseed and turned like a bag of potatoes. This is not hearsay but direct evidence. Something needs to be done. I do not always agree with this Minister but he is right on the ball with this one.

    • Way Papa
      January 3, 2013

      I desire to see some of you turn 250pound patients wi!Smh

      • Saysay
        January 5, 2013

        It can be done if you know how.

    • Is me!
      January 4, 2013

      A bed sore cannot develop after 2-3 days nuh pal! The person had their thing already! Bed sores occur in a process

  36. sayodityodit
    January 3, 2013

    True! True True. I agree, Agree Agree!

  37. Yes
    January 3, 2013

    Very good Mr. Timothy. No patient should suffer from bed sores, not when you have ward aids and nurses in abundance. Do your jobs people.

    • 2013
      January 3, 2013

      Nurses in abundant!!! Get ur stats right. Ever heard of 2 nurses on a ward with 27 patients.( 1 an RN and d other a nursing assistant) come to PMH is there u will get stats.

      • Yes
        January 4, 2013

        They in abundance self…you need to check the stats.. How many nurses you want to have to serve 25 patients lying on a bed? 5 or 6

      • Is me!
        January 4, 2013

        @ yes……Do you know how many patients a nurse is assigned to in america? ONEEE……YES ONE!! Do you know what the nurses has to do for the 27 patients, cuz if it was your mother on one of the beds, you would want a nurse at her beck and call right? So think of 27 patients wanting the same thing from 2 or 3 nurses! All you Dominicans too WICKED!!!

  38. rescue911
    January 3, 2013

    well said .that is totally unacceptable .(they dont get bed sores in green hill ,they dont get bed sores in the infirmary and they shouldnt get bed sores at the hospital)very strong words .i support that

  39. T mama
    January 3, 2013

    Very true, bed sores can be avoided, care care care, and patients must be changed regularly and nothing wet should be under them….bed sores start very small with a litle bruise and that should be noticed right away..they have all the good ointments and even petroleum jelly is good..

    • Sharp ears
      January 4, 2013

      or a pressure(reddened)spot.

  40. newsAddict
    January 3, 2013

    I agree with you 100% mr Minister

  41. Anonymous
    January 3, 2013

    I agree

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

:) :-D :wink: :( 8-O :lol: :-| :cry: 8) :-? :-P :-x :?: :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: more »

 characters available