HAVANA, June 8 (Amarilis Cortina Rey, Cuba-Verdad) - Referring to the poor
attention patients can expect at the "Julio Trigo" hospital in the
Havana suburb of Arroyo Naranjo, residents have begun to jokingly compare it to
a popular ice cream parlor here, saying patients come in warm and leave frozen.
On June 1, an 85-year-old woman came into the hospital with fractures in
both hands and had to stand while waiting to be seen because there was no place
to sit. Eventually the woman fainted and was taken outside by other patients who
sat her down on a fence and gave her something to drink to revive her.
"There were many of us there, all standing, because there's no place to
sit down. The doctor seemed tired, and said to me: 'Granma, I'll take care of
you, but you are going to have to wait,' " the woman said afterwards.
A hospital official who declined to identify himself said later: "We
know about her case, but what can we do?"
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