Lovell calls out MP Smith and Health Minister over neglect of healthcare facilities in All Saints West

The new UPP caretaker for All Saints West Harold Lovell is not mincing words when speaking on the ‘neglect’ the constituency has been dealt over the years.

One of those areas of neglect is healthcare.

According to Lovell, the clinic has been closed for repairs for some time now and while he understands there are times when upgrades are needed, the timeline is unacceptable as constituents in All Saints West now must travel to the Glanvilles Polyclinic.

This is a matter, Lovell stated is “unacceptable and must be urgently addressed”.

“It’s a huge inconvenience. You have nursing mothers. You have pregnant females. You have those who require attention, perhaps on a short term basis,where they would want to have a facility that is in the constituency and it’s simply unacceptable that a constituency of this size, because All Saints is quite a widely spread constituency, that there is no healthcare facility available and it is not something that having come on the scene and having discussed it with Barbara and the members of the branch, it’s clear that this is a matter that needs to be urgently addressed,” Lovell mentioned on Monday while speaking on another local media house.

He was stern in his comments that while the responsibility falls on the Minister of Health, the sitting MP’s role is to advocate for their people. He believes that Anthony Smith has not been doing that.

“You’re talking about since 2023 and in my opinion, there seems to be a serious dereliction of duties here on the part of not only the minister of health but the sitting MP. What is the status in terms of the actual physical reconstruction of that clinic?  Well, the the clinic is supposed to be undergoing repairs, but nothing is happening and so they’ve obviously just decided that the people must wait. So, no workmen, no construction. Nothing is happening. We’ve seen from time to time, persons come and tinker here, tinker there but there’s no ongoing work as far as that facility is concerned,” Lovell said.

He shared his commitment to the constituents to continue this fight until it is resolved.

“I mean, you cannot talk about repairing a facility and almost two and a half years later, you’re still in an incomplete state. So, this is something that will be treated as a priority and we will raise the flags necessary, ring the bells necessary, blow the horns necessary to draw attention until something is done and this matter is addressed properly and so I can assure the residents of All Saints West that I’m here and together with the other members of the branch and those who are interested in advancing this cause in making sure that we get it fixed,” Lovell said.

A letter has been penned to the Minister of Health Sir Molwyn Joseph about the seriousness of the matter. In the document, inquiries are made for an update on when the clinic will be reopened as well.

“I delivered a letter yesterday to the Minister of Health and I have expressed to him my serious concern that yesterday, it was 841 days. Today, it’s now 842 days. We will not allow this to go to 900 days. It is just unacceptable and when you consider that, you know, the government seems to find money for a lot of frivolity but something as important as the health care for the elderly in this area, that’s something that they seem to put on the back burner and we’re not going to have it. We’re going to push, we’re going to push, we’re going to fight and we’re going to make certain that that service is restored in good time,” Lovell declared.

In the meanwhile, Lovell along with former caretaker Barbara Coates will be hosting a health fair on August 24.