CALL MADE FROM THE DLP TO THE HEALTH CARE CRISIS

The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) is calling for urgent national action to address what it describes as a deepening healthcare crisis at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), warning that prolonged delays in Accident & Emergency (A&E) now amount to a public health emergency.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Opposition said Barbadians are waiting days to be triaged and treated at the country’s only trauma-capable public hospital, even as distressing patient accounts circulate widely on social media. The party accused the Mia Mottley–led Government of failing to provide leadership, transparency or a credible plan to address the situation.

According to the DLP, mounting pressure on the QEH is being driven by a surge in violent crime and serious accidents, rising cases of influenza and respiratory illnesses, and long-standing shortages of medical staff, funding, supplies and medication. The cumulative effect, the party said, has been a deteriorating standard of care and growing public anxiety—an outcome it maintains was foreseeable and preventable.

DLP Proposes Immediate Measures

The DLP outlined a series of short-term, targeted interventions aimed at reducing A&E wait times to under 24 hours and restoring public confidence in the healthcare system.

Among the proposals is the immediate extension of polyclinic operating hours to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays and weekends, with the goal of diverting influenza and other non-trauma cases away from A&E to ease overcrowding.

The party also called for an emergency staffing initiative through coordinated national engagement with the Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners (BAMP), the Barbados Nurses Association (BNA), private doctors and medical schools, including short-term recruitment to support extended clinic hours and surge coverage.

Additionally, the DLP proposed the use of vacant clinic spaces at the QEH after daytime hours to operate evening general practice and family medicine clinics until 11:00 p.m. This, it said, would allow non-emergency patients to be redirected from A&E into structured care streams.

To address persistent shortages, the party is also urging supplementary funding for the Barbados Drug Service and the QEH to stabilise ordering practices, secure national medication supply chains and prevent recurring stock-outs.

Reaffirming its commitment to universal, accessible public healthcare, the DLP said it remains opposed to what it described as the creeping privatisation of essential services.

“We have listened to the people. We have solutions. We are ready to govern and to restore dignity, efficiency and care to Barbados’ healthcare system,” said Senator Andre Worrell, DLP spokesperson on Health and Wellness and candidate for St. Michael Central.