Fewer than one in four medical staff rostered for duty in the Southern Regional Health Authority, SRHA, on Friday morning reported to work.

That’s according to an SRHA staffing report seen by Nationwide News.

The shortfall in staff comes amid a prior threat by the Jamaica Medical Doctors Association, JMDA, to withdraw service in protest of a tardy ruling from the Industrial Disputes Tribunal, IDT.

Chevon Campbell tells us more.

The report from the Southern Regional Health Authority, SRHA, shows that 81 of the 350 medical staff expected at 8 AM were present across the region’s hospitals and the health departments in Manchester, Clarendon and St. Elizabeth.

At Mandeville Regional Hospital, 22 of the 133 medical staff expected turned out.

There were no medical officers in the hospital’s Accident and Emergency, A&E, Department, which had 53 patients.

According to Senior Medical Officer, Dr. Everton McIntosh, services had to be scaled back substantially.

At May Pen Hospital, 19 of 65 personnel on the medical team reported for duty.

Its emergency and orthopaedic departments had no medical crew, and consultants were managing the wards.

Percy Junor Hospital had three of its 18 medical officers, with senior residents covering the wards and A&E.

Black River Hospital had 17 of 35.

Lionel Town Hospital is operating in emergency mode.

The gap is even wider in primary care.

Just 11 of 83 medical personnel reported to the parish health departments.

In Manchester, only one of the 26 medical workers expected at clinics including Porus, Christiana and Lincoln was present.

The figures come after the Jamaica Medical Doctors Association, JMDA, threatened to withdraw all but emergency services from 8 AM Friday until 8 AM Saturday.

On Tuesday, JMDA President, Dr. Jubilee Brown-Service, warned that services would be disrupted if the Industrial Disputes Tribunal did not rule on the doctors’ overtime dispute by today.

The doctors say they are still being paid overtime at 2021 rates.

The Health Ministry says emergency and essential services remain available at public health facilities islandwide.

But it’s advising patients to expect longer waiting times and possible rescheduling of non-urgent clinics and elective procedures.

Meanwhile, the South East Regional Health Authority, SERHA, says its hospitals and health centres are operating in emergency mode.

SERHA manages facilities in Kingston and St. Andrew, St. Thomas and St. Catherine.

The health authority says priority is being given to patients requiring emergency and urgent medical care.

SERHA has also implemented measures across its hospitals and health centres to minimise disruptions.

It notes that persons with life-threatening and other serious medical emergencies will be prioritised.

Non-emergency and routine services have been delayed, reduced or rescheduled.

And, at least two public hospitals across the North-East Regional Health Authority, NERHA, are conducting emergency services only.

They are St Ann’s Bay Regional Hospital and Port Maria Hospital.

Nationwide News understands that only 12 percent of staff are operating at the St. Ann’s Bay Regional.

NERHA says all out-patient clinics, non-urgent procedures and elective surgeries have been suspended.

However, it’s understood all Accident and Emergency departments across NERHA are functioning.

And Health Minister, Dr. Christopher Tufton, says the Regional Health Authorities have reported no adverse events at the island’s hospitals and health centres.

Dr. Christopher Tufton, Health and Wellness Minister.