Son After Father Dies Waiting at NRH: “If You Don’t Love the Job, Leave It”

Another family is left grieving and questioning Belize’s public health system. A 92-year-old man died over the weekend while waiting for medical attention at the Northern Regional Hospital (NRH). His son says help came only after his father stopped breathing.

Eusebio Espinosa Junior told News 5 that he took his father, Eusebio Espinosa Senior, to the hospital on Saturday evening after he began experiencing severe pain and discomfort. He said they arrived around 5:45 p.m. and went through triage but were told to wait outside as staff attended to other patients.

Espinosa said he repeatedly pleaded with nurses and other medical staff to see his father but was told to “wait outside” and that the staff were “too busy.” He said that by the time staff attended to his father, it was too late.

“It really hurt me because I was waiting nearly over an hour,” Espinosa said. “When my girlfriend rushed in there and said that my father is not breathing, that’s when all the nurses and doctors started to rush and wheeled him in. They opened the door, and we took him in.”

He added that the emergency area was packed that evening, and it was noticeable that there were limited personnel on duty.

Health and Wellness Minister Kevin Bernard ordered a full investigation into the matter. In a statement on Sunday, Bernard said, “If it is confirmed that there was negligence, failure to triage appropriately, or disregard for the patient’s critical condition, we will ensure that those responsible are held accountable.”

When asked what his expectations of this investigation are, Espinosa said, “I don’t really expect anything out of this… Minister Bernard, he’s a good minister, but I would only want that they tighten up the gaps with the nurses there and work on what needs to be worked on. If someone reach an emergency ward, deal with them. Let them have more staff.”

“When I get older, I just want to see my grandkids get better treatement,” he added. “If you don’t want to work, try something else to do. If you don’t love what you’re doing, you need to carry on with another occupation. You can’t be there just for a salary.”