The final days of a beloved uncle have left a grieving family reeling with unanswered questions and deep disappointment in Jamaica’s public health system. What began as a critical medical transfer filled with urgency and hope, ended in sorrow — and a haunting silence from those entrusted with care.
According to his family, the patient was moved from a private facility to the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) on October 5, 2025, after being diagnosed with leptospirosis. The transferring doctor advised the family that UHWI was the best option due to the availability of an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and an on-site blood bank — vital resources for managing complications from the disease.
But the reality upon arrival was far removed from those assurances.
After reaching UHWI around 10:30 PM, the family says it wasn’t until nearly 4 AM that their relative was seen by a doctor. The doctor conducted preliminary assessments and requested a chest X-ray, which the family secured and delivered later that same day. At the time, the patient appeared stable — responsive, with no visible signs of distress. That stability, however, did not last.
By the following morning, October 7, his condition had deteriorated. Doctors reportedly informed the family that he had not passed urine since admission, and that his kidneys were failing. A call for blood was made — or so they were told. Upon following up, the hospital’s blood bank stated it had received no such request. When the family pressed further on why he had not been placed in the ICU as promised, the answer was blunt: no bed available. When asked for logs to confirm if an ICU team had at least assessed him, none were produced.
By October 9, the patient was bleeding from multiple sites and showing signs of confusion — a clear indication that the infection had taken a firm hold. The family’s pleas to speak with the attending doctor were met with disarray. One physician claimed to have no details on the case, stating the patient was “new on the ward.”
That same day, Tell Claudienne reached out to UHWI leadership, including the CEO and public relations team, requesting clarity and urgency. But it was already too late. Shortly after those inquiries were made, the patient died.
Over the following weeks, continued outreach to the hospital received no official reply. It wasn’t until over a month later, on November 26, that the Ministry of Health and Wellness acknowledged the case through its Client Affairs division. A formal statement confirmed they had contacted the family directly to assist with next steps.
Yet, no explanation has been given for the apparent breakdown in communication, the absence of ICU transfer, or the mishandled blood request. The family, now left with only memories and unanswered questions, continues to grapple with the haunting feeling that more could have been done.
Their message is simple: they believed in the system. But in their darkest hour, that belief was betrayed.
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