The Ministry of Health (MoH), under the leadership of the Minister of Health, the Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, has embarked upon improving care and services delivered in all hospitals, health clinics and community health programmes by introducing a patient-centred approach to be adopted in the health system. Patients and users of the health system expect medical/clinical interventions delivered with respect and some level of emotional support. To this end the Ministry of Health has developed the Compassionate Care Volunteer Policy and Programme that provides guidelines, strategies and actions to enable a shift from the current culture to one in which care and services are delivered in a compassionate environment.
The Ministry of Health has, in the past two years, shifted the discussion on how the health system currently functions, to one which prioritizes a patient-centred environment. The MoH is focused on the preparation of staff and stakeholders for a change in the practices and approach to patients. Given the context of scarce human resources, the MoH foresees the managed involvement of volunteers to support patient-centred care.
Status
Cabinet approval of the Cabinet Submission on the Compassionate Care Policy and Programme has paved the way for the following initiatives that are being implemented:
- Sensitisation on the Compassionate Care Policy and Programme has taken place with the Senior Directorate of the Regional Health Authorities and hospital Chief Executive Officers (CEOs).
- The Compassionate Care Volunteer Programme will be piloted at the Kingston Public and Victoria Jubilee (VJH) hospitals and the launch was held at the VJH in March 2018.