National Assembly approves motion for casualty service to be used for emergency cases only |18 May 2023

On the second day of its sitting for the second trimester the National Assembly has approved a motion calling on government, through the Ministry of Health, to ensure the casualty service at the Seychelles Hospital is used for emergency cases only, and not as a normal health centre.

The motion by the elected member for English River, Hon. Andy Labonte, followed concerns raised by the public and several casualty staff that some people were abusing the service destined for accident and emergency cases only, hence putting pressure on the service.

He said this could be due to lack of education about the raison d’être of a casualty service or lack of information about other regional centres operating on a twenty-four hour basis, which prompted the public to treat the casualty as a normal health centre.

Citing statistics for last year, Hon. Labonte said an average of 3400 people accessed the service per month. In January last year out of 3011 persons who accessed the service, 228 were casualty cases, and in February there were 252 cases classified as casualty out of 3072. In March 2022, there were 317 casualty cases out of 3660 that accessed the service.

According to Hon. Labonte, a similar trend was observed throughout the year and for the first quarter of 2023. He urged his colleagues to start a conversation on the matter and propose a plausible solution.

The members from the Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS) caucus who intervened on the motion supported it and urged the public to make use of other available facilities and to stop abusing the service. Hon. Sandy Arissol highlighted the various challenges faced by the country’s health system, which he said their administration had inherited, and the need to look at the matter closely and to find a solution that will not affect other people and other health centres.

Hon. Rosie Bistoquet touched on the importance of an accident and emergency service, its benefits to the population, and the need for people to look after their health.

All the US members who intervened spoke against the motion with the leader of the opposition, Hon. Sebastien Pillay, stating that what was happening at the casualty was a reflection of a failed leadership and the government was now placing the blame on the people.

His views was shared by Hon. Wallace Cosgrow who described the motion and subsequent debate as an exercise in futility, which will not lead to anything as the problem lies with the leadership.

Elected member for Port Glaud, Hon. Egbert Aglae, stated that people were turning to casualty because at times they felt they were not necessarily receiving the adequate service in their respective health centre.

He urged the government to review the salary of medical staff especially nurses and to remunerate them adequately.

The motion was approved by 17 members from the ruling party LDS, while the seven United Seychelles members present voted against it. There were no abstentions.

It should be noted that yesterday’s session started with messages of condolence to the family of the late Geva Rene who passed away last week.

The leader of the opposition, Hon. Pillay, expressed words of sympathy on behalf of his party, describing Mrs Rene as an important figure who has done so much for children, their protection as well as their development.

Speaking on behalf of the LDS caucus, Hon. Bernard Georges also said Mrs Rene should be remembered as an individual who did a lot for the development of education and children and sent their sympathy to her families.

The Speaker also conveyed his sympathy to the family. He also read a message of condolence on behalf of the chairperson of the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus, Regina Esparon, to the family of a three-year-old girl who passed away on Tuesday.

In her message, Hon. Esparon said that an in-depth investigation should be undertaken into her death and urged parents and those in charge of minor to be more responsible and protect children, and report any cases of abuse. The message read that it was the responsibility of every individual in the community to protect all children.

Patsy Canaya