Dear Editor,

The July 8 edition of The DAILY LEADER proclaims in bold print”KDMC receives $9M loan toward renovation plans.” No doubt theadditional expansion and new facilities will enhance the localhospital, and I am certainly in favor of any improvements. However,an even more urgent need exists, and that is to adequately staffand dispense in a timely manner care to emergency roompatients.

On the evening of July 10, I accompanied my daughter to KDMCemergency room, where we waited for over 2 hours without evertalking with a physician. I spoke with the nurse, who explainedthey were working short-handed and could not say how much longer wewould have to wait to see the ER doctor. After some discussion, wedecided it was futile to wait any longer, as did a young couplefrom Bogue Chitto with a sick child, who left for SouthwestMississippi Medical Center.

However desirable new facilities may be, they cannot be asubstitute for adequate medical staffing that can treat patients ina timely manner.

Robert S. Morris

Brookhaven