Some private hospitals not accepting patients with flu

Most private hospitals will not be accepting patients experiencing flu-like symptoms.

In fact, one hospital, Medical Associates, posted a notice asking members of the public or patients with symptoms such as fever, sore throat, and cough, to seek treatment via public institutions “as per Ministry of Health advice.”

“We will not be accepting patients with these symptoms through our institution. Sorry for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.”

One staff member said people entering the hospital would be asked a series of questions to determine if they had such symptoms before being allowed to enter the premises. He said this was being done because the hospital had no quarantine facilities to treat with coronavirus (covid19) patients.

St Clair Medical had a similar policy in that patients with these symptoms would not be treated. A worker said the policy was put in place to protect the staff and other patients warded at the hospital.

Former Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan said it was unbelievable that a hospital would refuse to treat a patient and said that the St Augustine Private Hospital would manage someone with flu-like symptoms. “If someone comes in with those symptoms they would manage you. If you need to be in isolation we would put you in a private room.”

However, when Sunday Newsday contacted the front desk at St Augustine Private Hospital, a member of staff a said it would be “safer” to go to a public medical facility. She said the hospital would not treat such a patient because the hospital was taking precautions against covid19. She added that the hospital assigned one private room for quarantine “just in case.”