Mandeville Regional Hospital patient admissions stay high after Hurricane Melissa

Admissions at Mandeville Regional Hospital in Manchester are still running well above usual, though health leaders expect the count to move back toward pre–Hurricane Melissa levels. Michael Stern, chairman of the Southern Regional Health Authority, said much of that recovery will hinge on whether people start managing their health more responsibly.

He made the remarks on Thursday during a handover ceremony for beds donated to the hospital by bauxite firm Jamalco. Stern explained that the facility took on heavier patient traffic after Hurricane Melissa left several other centres badly damaged, among them Black River Hospital in neighbouring St. Elizabeth.

According to Stern, monthly admissions at Mandeville Regional climbed to 589 in November before easing to 492 in March. He also called on residents to show consideration for hospital workers and to be more compliant, saying that would help ease the pressure on the staff.