Police investigating report of sex crime at hospital
(CNS): The RCIPS has confirmed that it received a report of gross indecency that happened at the HSA hospital’s Mental Health Unit, which is now under investigation. CNS understands this relates to a male patient exposing himself to a teenage girl who was also a patient. Allegations that a child was raped at the unit on Sunday have not been confirmed but officials have now broken their silence on shocking child-safeguarding problems.
Very serious allegations were aired on Cayman Marl Road this week that a teenage girl was raped in front of another child at the unit last weekend. Further allegations made by family and staff that there have been other occasions when sex crimes have taken place have not been verified. Nevertheless, the fact that children are being housed with adult patients who are all suffering from serious mental health issues has shocked the community.
CNS contacted the hospital about the allegations earlier this week, and on Thursday evening, the HSA issued a statement which provided no details about what happened this weekend or in the past, but noted the huge increase in mental health issues, especially among children and adolescents, that it is dealing with.
“The Health Services Authority (HSA), as a healthcare institution, is legally and ethically bound by strict confidentiality protocols to ensure the privacy and dignity of our patients,” the statement read.
“The recent media coverage regarding a highly sensitive matter currently under investigation by the appropriate authorities is being taken very seriously. Without diminishing the seriousness of the matter, the HSA would like to remind the public of the far-reaching consequences of unverified statements.”
The release, which was not attributed to anyone on the HSA management team or the board, suggested that the circulation of this information “undermines public trust in essential services”. However, it is clear that children have been put at risk and there has been a breakdown in child safeguarding.
“We understand that members of the public have questions or concerns on the matter. While we are not at liberty to share any information at this time, be assured that we are working closely with all relevant authorities and stakeholders,” the statement read.
“The overwhelming increases in mental health cases have created tremendous strain on all of our mental health facilities. Overall demand for our in-patient mental health services has increased exponentially since 2021. Adolescent admissions have increased consistently from seven in 2021 to 36 in 2024. Based on admission to date, we anticipate over 50 adolescent admissions in 2025.”
The HSA release said that demand for adolescent outpatient mental health services had increased by 50%, and three beds were recently added to the unit. There is 24-hour security at the unit, and the HSA has expanded electronic monitoring and increased support staff to enhance patient safety, the HSA said, but noted the pressing need to develop a purpose-built facility for teens and children, which has been supported in principle by the health minister.
Health Minister Kathy Ebanks-Wilks has announced that all adults currently housed at the Mental Health Unit will be relocated to the new Poinciana Rehabilitation Centre (PRC) so that the hospital can cater exclusively to children.
“Mental health has for too long been underfunded, undervalued, and fragmented across our system,” she said in a release issued Thursday night. “Once taking office, it quickly became evident to me that an urgent solution was needed to separate the adult and children receiving inpatient mental health services.”
She said the ministry had spent the last few weeks looking at options to provide a dedicated space for children at the hospital, as the current situation is unacceptable. However, most of the options would take too long to implement, so the decision was taken to move the adult inpatients to “the underutilised” new facility in East End.
“This offers a much faster solution to creating separate and dedicated spaces for the two patient groups,” the minister said.
The process to transfer the patients officials said has been fast-tracked “to reassure the public that decisive steps are being taken in light of recent allegations of a disturbing incident involving a minor child receiving inpatient mental health care”, the release said in the only reference to the apparent dangers that children have been exposed to at the government hospital.
“This transition is just the first step in a broader reform agenda, which includes improving regulatory oversight, preventative care and creating a cohesive and modern healthcare system that meets the needs of every age group,” the minister added.
See the press releases below:
- Fascinated
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- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
Category: Crime, Health, Mental Health, Police
Government can find the money to give Julianna the big bucks, but don’t have the big bucks to properly fund the health facilities?
What a joke!
Make it make sense!
Good job we identified priorities to service delivery and managed to get the hospital renamed, phew!
So one kid reported this before it happened I hear, they moved him. Allowing the predator to strike? Epic
It just shows the level of forward planning in regards to child safety is zero. Wait till something happens then react as always wow. Just wow.
What the hell iss poinciana anyway apart from virtually closed and only housing staff?
A Bellevue approach to managing mental patients here in Cayman!
Enough local patients suffered n died there too!!
Shame on every single member of government for the past 20+ years. Mental health issues have long been ignored in Cayman, if we pretend it doesn’t exist it will go away has been the thought process – same for sexual abuse, domestic abuse and incest in Cayman. Poinciana Rehabilitation Centre should have been opened years ago but the failure of all parties involved to work together to get it done is nothing more than gross negligence and failure to protect those most vulnerable.
This should not have been a party issue but every member of government from the Premier, the Minister of Health, the Opposition and all the way down to those who built the property should have made a mental health facility a priority – the Covid years would have been the perfect opportunity to perfect all that was wrong with the building and have it fully functioning by the time we came out of lockdown.
But again, politricks – each politician looking out for themselves and not for the good of their country. Of course, first priority was Kenny’s park, Elio’s cruise port, Joey’s special interest groups and Julianna’s ridiculous unnecessarily overpriced school but once we got those approved, hey … “/sarcasm”. If only they had all put the same energy into addressing the health system/HSA (and insurance industry), and RCIPS failures in Cayman imagine how much better off we’d be. And the HSA board members and their exorbitant fees.
Absolutely disgusting, shame on you all. The mental and emotional distress caused by this incident on these poor children is on you all. How do you sleep at night?
Politicians/government – learn well from this.
You are soo on point! All these comments on CNS just falls on deaf ears and sweep under the rugs/carpet. I was hoping that the New Govt would be taking quick action seems as if just as the previous ones, waiting for something horrible has to happen before action is taken. I heard Kathy and Issac on media rounds last Friday but she gives the impression they were aware of the housing situation with mental patients and was actively trying to have same sorted. Hmmmm! The same old politicking tricks. What was Sabrina, Jon Jon, UPM, PACT , the HSA Board all doing? It was highlighted that they Are Covered Up incidents happening at the HSA. Some replacements needed now which however I will take with a grain of salt. People are just tired and fed up of the same old same old. It seems only Michael Myles is trying to get Immigration Reform in place. Such a difference when campaigning and then to effect all your political rhetorics. Cayman now has to wait six months for a SPS, leaving all important matters on hold. Our Cruise Tourism is at its lowest , nothing done to address same, as this is one of Govt Revenue, Health Insurance Coverage for the over 65s uncovered by CiNico falling on deaf ears, Govt not addressing Crime, high profile cases unsolved hopefully a conviction will be secured for Toddler Powell . People living in squalid conditions homes needing roofs and proper bathroom facilities. Is this the Cayman Jewel of the Caribbean? A police force with low morals , can hardly solve crimes. Cayman has soo many welfare , drugs and mental issues. Doesn’t need a rocket science to analyse this! All you can here help is on the way. Let’s wait and see.
oh this will go ‘unsolved’ anyways guys no worries our RCIPS have it handled. pathetic.
Give the Board a raise!! You would have thought that risk management featured in the discussion at one of their multiple weekly meetings. Were they not aware of this risk, knew but chose not to do anything, or it is as they say, they were just meeting for the stipend but couldn’t be bothered with how well the organization was operating? Quite a shame frankly, this Government’s lack of action with that governing body shouts complicity.
Didn’t we recently read that
the total annual payments to board members have increased from just under $19,000 in 2016 to more than $250,000 in 2023.
“Some board members are going home with eight or $9,000 per month.”
Criminal maladministration. Everywhere.
HSA is indicative of CIG, and the need to introduce civil services rollover.
HSA has blocked so many qualified locals ( me twice) front jobs, then bring in their own sistas n bruddas working happily Sun to Fri.
HSA is a combo of Bellevue and Kingston General, and it ain’t gonna improve. Just another money pit (incl Setups n lawsuits) at this point.
So… we are under the same impression right?.. that this is just the first time it was seen/talked about but probably not the first time there has been horrendous things behind the doors there…
No “we” aren’t. We are under impression that something very wrong may have happened, and that it isn’t being covered up. Damage control is likely being conducted, however the reporting on this site infers that the family’s ire and questions are being addressed.
It is also somewhat apparent that new legislation and protocols are in play to make reporting and investigation easier.
However, we are all under the impression, I imagine, that if someone is found guilty of these crime(s) that their testicles should be removed prior to their jail sentence.
‘may’ have happened? lmao anyways………..
i say again, this is probably just one of the times some horrendous act was seen and able to be told about. but lets not pretend hsa isnt a shithole and lets not pretends its hard to imagine an immense lack of supervision or preventatives for shit up in there.
like others have said; why are adults and kids not more separated? why was there access? howd they get pass all the staff? actually where was the staff?
Have you been there? I don’t have a dog in this race, however my family have been well treated at HSA, and I mean ALL of the caregivers from the Surgeons to housekeeping. HSA is NOT a “shithole”. We are fortunate to have such a facility on our island. I hope you never have to discover how inclusively supportive they are; if you do, that means that you are very sick and/or injured, and I don’t wish that on you. I have been there. My family has been there. I feel blessed that those caring medical professionals were there to help us.
Convicted sex offenders bunked with kids seems on brand for the HSA. This government, who presumably represent a more contemporary view of the world, should immediately change the name back to George Town hospital. Cayman should never allow the living commemoration of this abominable former MP who actively opposed the civil rights of Caymanians. Time to clean house at the HSA for whoever allowed these crimes.
Time to get rid of the CEO. HSA is a mess!!
crazy considering the amount of money wasted by cig every year on the civil service….
more money will not solve anything.
This is pure madness. In other care facility a paralyzed resident got bitten multiple times.
Who’s getting fired then? Oh, never mind. Zzzzzz
Fired? The case of Criminal negligence here.
Criminal maladministration is seemingly becoming evident across our civil service. A willful disregard for our laws and reasonable standards of conduct can be seen with some frequency. The offence exists at common law, carries significant penalties, and should be being investigated and where appropriate, prosecuted. Why isn’t it?
Absolutely!
civil service doesn’t do firing or accountability generally