According to Tony Goodman, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, “No patient should ever be told there is ‘no bed’ without proper assessment,” Mr. Goodman declared, his voice steady with conviction.
He explained that only an authorized medical professional, not security guards or other unauthorized staff, should make decisions about a hospital’s capacity to admit new patients.
He painted a vivid picture for his audience: A worried family arrives at the hospital’s entrance, only to be turned away by someone not qualified to judge the urgency of their loved one’s condition. “This is not acceptable,” Mr. Goodman insisted. “In an emergency, the priority must always be to stabilise the patient first. Only after this, should a decision be made about bed availability or a potential referral.”
He reminded everyone that when patients are sent away without proper care, it often leaves them with nowhere else to turn. “There may be no immediate alternatives—no other hospital, no available doctor. It is our duty to provide immediate care and to ensure the patient’s condition is managed before considering transfer arrangements.”
Looking to the future, Mr. Goodman shared promising news about long-term solutions. The Ministry of Health, he revealed, is preparing to bridge the gaps in specialised healthcare delivery. In the coming months, new training programmes will be launched for nurses, focusing on areas like oncology, critical care, emergency care, and nephrology.
“For years, our focus has been on training general nurses. But now, we need more specialists who can respond effectively to critical situations,” he said. The Ministry will soon begin recruiting nurses for these specialised programmes, aiming to strengthen the healthcare system’s ability to handle complex and urgent cases.
Through his story, Mr. Goodman painted a vision of a more compassionate and prepared health service, one where every patient receives the assessment and care they deserve, and where no one is left behind for lack of a bed.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com









