Minister of Transport and Works Senator Julian Francis has lauded the Accident and Emergency Unit at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH) for what he described as the good work exhibited there following the treatment of some students involved in a recent vehicular accident.{{more}}

Francis’ son, Julio Francis, was the driver of the Suzuki Escudo that crashed along the main road at Villa on November 9, with seven other persons on board.

Speaking at last Thursday’s sitting of the House of Assembly, the senator said that despite the many negative things that are said about the unit, he wanted to give testimony to the wonderful performance by staff in treating the injured occupants of the vehicle.

“Last Friday afternoon, there was indeed a major accident and several, what I call emergencies … Eight college students who were involved in a vehicular accident and all had to be taken to the Accident and Emergency Unit,” Francis said.

“And, Mr Speaker, there were patients when the eight students were brought in and in a very short space of time, the staff … the doctors, everybody were mobilized and organized to continue to serve the patients there at the Accident and Emergency and yet find the competent doctors and nurses to assist those particular five persons out of eight who received serious injuries,” he continued.

Francis explained that seven of the eight occupants required medical attention and were all bedded, gassed, cleaned and stitched within a very short space of time.

“And I have to give real testimony to the personnel down there … it would be remiss of me if I didn’t,” Francis explained.

He added that even the hospital’s administrative staff got involved and some nursing staff, who were going off duty, and a few already done with their duties for the day, volunteered to assist.

He said that by 7 p.m. they were able to ascertain the severity of the injuries and this eventually led to the discovery that one of the affected patients had a ruptured spleen and was bleeding internally and required emergency surgery.

Surgery started around 1 a.m., Francis said, and two hours later the patient was at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) recuperating.

“In fact, the patient lost four pints of blood and the hospital had the blood which was delivered promptly to the theatre,” Francis said.

He further explained that he was advised that following on the removal of one’s spleen, a vaccination is usually required, which Francis said was done the following morning.

“So, the doctors and surgical team that came in to carry that out, I want to give great praise to them,” he said.

Francis is the second politician to praise the staff at the A&E Department in as many weeks.

Leader of the Opposition Arnhim Eustace commended the department for their treatment of him when he sought medical attention there after dislocating his shoulder on November 8. (DD)