Help fix the Polyclinic

[Sunshine]

You guys are funny - and have big hearts and wallets - the community of San Pedro appreciates your generosity.  Have a nice spooky halloween

[peterbj7]

Lest it be misunderstood, I am wholly in favour of this essential building being repaired, and I applaud those who have been in a position to contribute to that end.  My only concern has been the method apparently chosen, which prima facie seems to me to be sub-optimal.  I hope I'm wrong.

[clover]

Peter- I think you have all the right in the world to express your opinions.  

[ragman]

Did anyone notice that the government picked up the cost of the repair on the Poly Clinic?  I just read about it on the San Pedro Sun site but there wasn't a word about it on either message board unless I missed it.  This is good news.  It will leave funds that can be used for other good cause, I hope.  

[martinbsmithjr]

I got an email from Amanda about it. I left my donation through the Friendns of San Pedro to be used for other purposes.

[ragman]

Yes, which is what I would do when and if I'm notified.  There certainly is plently of need.

[deadserious]

We plan on sending out a email soon.  I want to come up with some alternatives for the money and put it to a vote of the donors.  Probably something still Polyclinic related though.

I've been busy with my move the past several weeks and after the 16th hope to have some more time to get caught up on this.

On a side note, we have had one person request a chargeback from their credit card company.  We get hit with a $30 fee for every chargeback, so it's a great way to kill our funds.  We are happy to talk to anyone who wants a refund of their donation, but a chargeback is not the right way to go about it.

[BettyJ]

On NYE there was a golf cart accident on the Island that resulted in a tourist having a pretty significant head injury.  According to numerous persons involved, this revealed significant opportunities for improvement, such as delays with physician response and patient transport arrangements, lack of basic emergency type equipment / supplies, like oxygen, neck braces, etc at the Polyclinic.  Also a need for updated training. 

These incidents continue to highlight the need for basic emergency response capabilities on the Island. My understanding is that the polyclinic can only be used by the government employed (verses private physicians), which could be problematic if the private Drs are the designated "Doc on call" after hours.  Although I am not sure what role the Polyclinic plays (was intended to play or should play), it is a nice set up for an ER type design to be able to "treat and stabilize" in the short term and has close proximity to the airstrip.   

I would think donating funds to an "Emergency Response Effort" would be a very worthy cause and could include the Polyclinic (if they agreed to share the funding with others involved).  Just my 2 cents.   

[deadserious]

I like the idea in principle.  We should definitely add it to the discussion.

[ragman]

Good idea Betty. This is an area that seems to be lacking and has been for quite some time.  I just don't know what you can do with a relatively small amount of money that would make a real difference.   I always wondered, is emergency response any better off Island? 

[martinbsmithjr]

Amanda, myself and many other people tried to do something about the emergency services on San Pedro about a year or so ago. We even had some meetings. I think the resources are there but I am doubtful about our ability to pull together the government (especially local), the doctors, and everyone else that would be required. Probably a good base to start from would be NEMO. If we could put into place the plan to take care of casualties in the event of a natural disaster then it can be back engineered to serve us when we have something as simple as an emergency.

I am willing to help in any way I can but it is going to take some one with far more patience than me to work with all the various groups. I can handle the doctors, the nurses, the bursiness people but someone else will have to deal with the politicians.

[Sunshine]

Before sending out an "official" statement regarding the government's assumption of the repair costs I did make a point of sending a private message to all of the parties that were kind enough to make donations.  I did send a message to Friends of San Pedro.  Of course Jason is understandably busy getting ready to move down to San Pedro.  I am still hopeful that the FOSP donations will still be used in poly clinic projects. 

Perhaps I should have posted on the message boards too - I too was pretty busy so it is hard to remember that some folks aren't on the "email lists."  Sorry about that lack of communication.

As it has been pointed out the clinic lacks many basic supplies.  I have bought oxygen cylinders and regulators for the clinic in the past.  Whenever medical emergencies are transferred to the city the equipment never seems to make its way back to the island so there is a constant need for more equipment.  Due to space and cost restraints it is often impossible to send somebody with the patient that can then be responsible for the equipment's return.

The poly clinic function, set up and operation can be a fairly complicated affair..... but with a will  I think we can help improve the options that are available to us all.

[BettyJ]

If I may.... an oxygen concentrator runs on electricity (but of course is stationary) sounds like this might be a great option and ensure no one is taking it.  Transports are another dealio (?sp).  Where does one purchase an oxygen tank (E cylinder) in Belize? 

[Sunshine]

It's the cylinders that are used for transportation that are going missing.  The larger tanks stay at the clinic.

You can buy gas cylinders in Belize City.  I can't remember the name of the place off hand but I think it might be Fabrigas Belize.

[peterbj7]

It is, Fabrigas.  I used to deal with them extensively.