Trinidade back on the job

DR Austin Trinidade resumed work yesterday as Medical Chief of Staff of the San Fernando General Hospital and immediately began “remedial work to put the hospital back on track.” Trinidade, who was reinstated two weeks after he objected to a Ministry of Health decision to send him on long leave, took back duties from Dr Anand Chatoorgoon who was appointed to act in his place. His first task yesterday morning was to deal with a letter written on last Friday by Chatoorgoon to Dr Jehan Ali, Head of the hospital’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. The letter accused Ali of submitting a sick leave certificate for 14 days during the six week impasse, yet working in private practice during his sick leave period.

Chatoorgoon copied the letter to the Permanent Secretary, Ag Chief Medical Officer of Health, Ag Principal Medical Officer, Public Service Commission and Chief Executive Officer (SWRHA). Ali, who received the letter yesterday, immediately passed it on to Trinidade. Trinidade read the letter but declined comment, except to say that he was not bounded by any decision Chatoorgoon may have taken during his tenure. Ali told Newsday yesterday he regarded the letter as a personal attack against him. Ali said he was contemplating legal action against the writer and publisher of the letter. Ali, one of the senior doctors who lobbied for Trinidade’s re-instatement, was present yesterday to welcome him at the office of the medical chief of staff.