Dr Chatoorgoon firm on ensuring patients care

NEWLY-appointed acting medical director at the San Fernando General Hospital, Dr Anand Chat-oorgoon, has taken a firm stance in ensuring uninterrupted patient care in the midst of an increasing work stoppage at the hospital’s wards.

Yesterday, the hospital’s maternity ward was on the verge of being shut down, but Chatoorgoon called in a doctor in private practice who managed to save the day. Chatoorgoon, who has been acting Medical Chief of Staff for only a week, has threatened to elicit the services of private doctors if more doctors stay away from the wards this week. The work stoppage appeared yesterday to be heading for another impasse as doctors refused increases for new contracts offered by the joint negotiating team of the Regional Health Authorities. Contacted yesterday, Chatoorgoon said that the Head of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology department, Dr Jehan Ali, called in sick as well as two other senior doctors.

“I asked Dr Ali whether any provision was made for other doctors to man the ward and he said no,” Chatoorgoon said. As a result, the Ag medical chief of staff said, he solicited the services of Dr Marvan Abdullah to take charge yesterday. This was done, he added, after consultation with acting Principal Medical Officer (Institutions), Dr Deepak Mahabir and Chief executive officer of the South-West Regional Health Authority, Vade Mohammed. “If this provision was not made then the O & G would have fallen flat,” Chatoorgoon told Newsday. Chatoorgoon, who will act in the position for the next five weeks, was high in praise for gynaecologists Drs Lakram Budhoo and Krishna Ramper-sadsingh. “These two doctors provided excellent coverage services at the weekend which prevented us from having to transfer patients to private nursing homes,” Ali said.

In the medical wards, Chatoorgoon said, some doctors called in sick and as a result, he was advised that those who turned up for duty, requested no new patients be admitted to the wards. But Chatoorgoon said that he was totally against such a stand by the doctors and instructed that all patients be attended to on the ward. “I continued to send patients because I hold the view that if doctors are working they must see the patient. If not, alternative arrangements would be made,” Chatoorgoon said. Chatoorgoon said that if the situation worsens, he would have no alternative but to employ the services of retired doctors. “Is not that I do not share the doctors concerns, but I have a responsibility to ensure patient care is delivered at the hospital,” Chatoorgoon said.