Two returning nationals are praising the staff at the Accident and Emergency department of the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH) for the service they received after sustaining injuries in a boat accident on December 26, 2012 — Boxing Day.{{more}}

Jeanne and Raffique Dunbar of New York and Kingstown Park say they were among six persons travelling in a speedboat when the accident occurred at sea between Campden Park and Ottley Hall.

There was a “mechanical something that was wrong,” Jeanne said.

“It was in the steering — so the boat actually swung around instantly, … so it tossed us around” Raffique further explained.

Raffique suffered a cut to the head that required 15 stitched and Jeanne had cuts to the face that also had to be sutures.

They told SEARCHLIGHT on Wednesday that the shoulder of another occupant of the boat was dislocated and another person also received cuts to the face.

A family friend was operating the boat and other friends assisted the wounded passengers, taking them to the MCMH.

“What we are saying is that we went to the Kingstown General Hospital (MCMH) and basically what we are saying is that everybody always write about the bad service that they got there, but we got really good service,” Jeanne said.

“Speedy and with the little resources that they have; really nice, really speedy service,” she further said.

The service, she said, was “better than expected because of what we always hear”.

Raffique told SEARCHLIGHT he was “very impressed” in light of “all the negative stuff we hear about the hospital”.

“And the doctors were very friendly,” he added, while Jeanne said, “Doctors and nurses, everybody were quite helpful, friendly, courteous and everything. And the doctor on duty was doctor Martin — female doctor, Vincentian.”

The two said they hear in the print and electronic media negatives things about the hospital — “that they are not nice”.

“That there is no good service, you wait forever; everything negative possible,” Raffique said.

Asked if it is not expected that the A&E would treat persons with open wounds immediately, Raffique said:

“I heard differently. You hear on the radio ‘I was waiting an hour with a cut and I was bleeding away.’ You hear stuff like that on the radio. I don’t know how true it is.” (kentonchance@searchlight.vc)