The reported critical shortage of equipment and personnel at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) is causing concern for the Opposition People's National Party.

Dr Fenton Ferguson, the opposition spokesman on health, says the matter has reached crisis proportions and needs the urgent attention of Minister of Health Rudyard Spencer.

According to Ferguson, the health minister needs to probe the situation at the KPH and take the necessary steps to address the problem.

"The KPH is one of our premier hospitals and learning institutions and the present conditions are compromising the ability of the hospital to deliver quality health care and threatening the lives of patients," Ferguson claimed.

He said that the hospital was facing a shortage of staff in critical areas and a shortage of equipment, including orthopaedic items and the absence of CT scans.

Ferguson further pointed out that there was inadequate medication for patients and that they had to wait for exceptionally long periods, particularly for the return of the results of biopsies.

The opposition spokesman's concerns came days after a probe by The Gleaner found several deficiencies at the hospital.

Hand, foot and mouth disease still spreading

More cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) have been detected in schools across the Corporate Area.

Information from the Ministry of Health indicates that a total of 23 children were detected with the symptoms during the inspection of 257 schools in Kingston and St Andrew.

However, the health ministry did not say if other cases had been detected in the schools not inspected across the island.

The inspection of some schools was triggered by the outbreak of the highly contagious virus at the Stella Maris Preparatory School in St Andrew.

The Ministry of Health later confirmed that there had been an increase in the outbreak of the virus in a number of learning institutions.

HFMD is a human syndrome caused by intestinal viruses. It usually affects children.

Ferncourt High suspects in custody

The Brown's Town police in St Ann have confirmed that two teenagers being sought in the October 21 stabbing death of Ferncourt High School student, Garon Jones, are now in custody.

According to a source at the station, the two suspects turned up at the station yesterday morning in the company of an attorney-at-law.

Jones was stabbed on the school compound, allegedly by a student of Marcus Garvey Technical High School, after an altercation between the two earlier on the morning in question in St Ann's Bay.

The accused and his brother, who also attends Ferncourt, had been on the run since then.