The Editor, Sir:

Picture this: It's 2 a.m. on Boxing Day and your child has breathing problems; what do you do? Well, like sensible parents, we got to the Bustamante Hospital for Children as soon as possible.

What happened next is nothing short of comical. We got to the gate to find guards dozing. They oriented themselves and one came to the gate. "Good morning," she said. "Where are you going?" A little taken aback, I said to this hospital and pointed to the building less than 100 metres between me, the guard and help for my sick child. Asked if I was staying, I said "I don't know, my child is sick; how could I know if I'm staying?"

She said: "Do you have a problem with being questioned? I have to register you." and then proceeded with more questions. "Who is in the car?" adding, "It would be nice if you would roll down all the windows so that I can see who else is in the car."

Dress code

After passing that hurdle, I dropped off my wife at the door, went to park the car but noticed that she was standing at the door for a few minutes. I went to enquire as to the cause. We were at another security checkpoint. This time my wife was detained because her dress had spaghetti straps. The guard told me this was against the dress code. I asked: "Do you realise that my child could die?" to which she responded amazingly, "Yes, but there is a dress code. You may have to give your wife your shirt."

I am not the least bit upset with the security guards which is why I did not explode into a total rage. I am, however, deeply saddened by the fact that there are actually persons who should be managing this facility. Security is important, but since you're securing a hospital, your first priority is to create a situation where you put life first while finding a way to secure the facility.

Operations and logistics issue

Incidentally, the guard had already let me on to the compound. If they really thought about it, they would realise that if I wanted to blow the place up, I already had access so to do.

So, Mr Health Minister:

Do we have to become the heavily litigious as in the United States before we start applying common sense to simple operations and logistics issues? I'm sure the issue of the blood bags is still fresh in your mind.

In writing your policies, please consider asking someone, just a normal person, to read them through to see if they make any sense at all.

As a general rule, we should put the care and attention of the persons whom we serve at the centre of our policies and procedures.

Process simulations may be something to consider. In fact Mr Minister, forget any option you have to to go to Miami for a second and ask one of your family members to go through that procedure. If they are happy to go through that in an emergency, then I'll admit, I may be expecting too much.

I am, etc.,

A YOUNG PROFESSIONAL

St Andrew