Chronic overcrowding at SFGH

THE EDITOR: Being on leave from the frustration of the health service, it was amazing to read the sensational and erroneous conjectures on the present situation of extreme overcrowding on the medical wards of San Fernando General Hospital.

It is a known fact that the medical wards of SFGH are always overcrowded. It is a known fact that there is only 40 percent of the required nursing staff, compared to the 80s. It is a known fact that doctors, nurses and other professional staff are heeding the advice of the Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Team who stated quite clearly that he was not negotiating to retain the services of local professionals for they are free to leave TT whenever they so desire. Presently there has been an influx of patients with viral type symptoms and preliminary blood investigations similar to that of Dengue Fever. No one said that the cases were all confirmed cases of Dengue Fever. All persons who are competently trained in health-care knows that you always prepare for the worst until there are results to the contrary. Results from the Public Health Laboratory take weeks and months. Many patients, despite the free health service, usually offer to pay for analysis of the test privately so as to obtain quicker answers. The option of waiting for weeks, sleeping on the corridor on a bench or if privileged, on a trolley is certainly not inviting.

Results from the Public Health Laboratory are thus not reflective of the epidemiology of Trinidad and Tobago. One must also obtain all data from the numerous private laboratories that have mushroomed due to the failure of the public health service. Why therefore were the various arms of the media highlighting Dengue Fever? Why was the Ministry of Health issuing releases denying increased cases of Dengue Fever? Why was the SWRHA also denying increased cases of Dengue Fever? To date, neither the media, Ministry of Health nor the SWRHA has admitted an increased number of admissions to the SFGH, with a viral type illness. Is the media afraid to show the effects of the overcrowding, with patients on corridors, on benches, on trolleys, etc? What about the Patients Rights and Charter? But seriously, will everyone stick to facts and figures and not be idiotic about statements claiming political motivation?

PHILIP AYOUNG-CHEE FRCS
Port-of-Spain