NWRHA silence on doctors’ impasse questioned

OFFICIALS of the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) dodged queries about industrial action by doctors which has caused major hospitals to be operating in emergency mode, but they could not escape the criticism of their workers.

No sooner had the Public Board meeting, at Amphitheatre A Eric Williams Medical Sci-ences Complex, last Monday evening been declared open to comments from the public, than a steady stream of concerns, criticisms and questions followed. Bernard Bailey, a building supervisor at St Ann’s Hospital, questioned the NWHRA’s silence on the crisis facing health institutions. He also wanted to know what action was being taken to address the salary disparities in which people doing similar jobs are paid different rates.  Bailey said he had written complaining about his situation for the past two years, but received no response from the Board or management. Another worker employed in a “similar capacity” was hired, but when the man’s relative was on the Board of the NWRHA, his salary tripled.

Bailey said his own checks revealed that the man was not registered with any engineering body in Trinidad and Tobago, although he is being paid for this service. “How do you expect staff to deliver quality health care and be treated with scant courtesy?” Bailey used the opportunity to describe the terrible conditions at St Ann’s Hospital, saying “depressed” would be an understatement to describe the ward he visited. “It is damp, dark and dismal. It lacks ventilation. It was designed to house 32 patients. At present the population is 67 to 20 beds. There are five toilets on that ward, none are functional; of the five showers one is functional.”

Bailey said better care must be given to the less fortunate in society. He expressed his annoyance that the authorities must be embarrassed into action. He wondered aloud if he must strike to draw attention to his concerns. Patrick Watson, Chairman of the NWRHA, said the human resource project would deal with problems of salary disparity. He said the Board could not deal with individual problems as this is the responsibility of management. The Board is not responsible for hiring workers. “Many problems could be addressed with money, but that is not something the NWRHA comes by easily”, he said

Commenting on the sickout action by doctors, Watson said negotiations were taking place and he hoped for the impasse to end very soon. He described the situation as “delicate” and said he did not want to say anything which would impact on a speedy resolution. The treatment of mental health workers and patients was highlighted in a very impassioned appeal by Cyril Gaulston. He said the closure of Ward One at St Ann’s Hospital had a rippling effect of people being “hustled” in and out without being properly treated. “Community workers, who are so few, have to deal with that and next thing is re-admission to the same ward in the next few days because of one ward that is not repaired.” Gaulston said staff shortages resulted in little rehabilitation of patients. The closure of Ward eight at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital has resulted in community health officers having to “crowd into” Woodbrook Health Centre to conduct the mental health clinic. Some of their clients have to be shifted elsewhere.

The Social Work Department at St Ann’s has been occupying a “temporary” facility for over a year. It is too small and there is no confidentiality for clients. Gaulston invited all in attendance to visit St Ann’s and see the conditions. “The services are so poor, why can’t we make an effort and try to improve one ward, one ambulance, get something going and we would have done something.” Gaulston said officials are only talking, but no action has been taken to implement the Mental Health Plan for Trinidad and Tobago.  He expressed skepticism about any changes being made when the Board reports on St Ann’s next year and said, “$6 million is not enough for St Ann’s Hospital”.

David Taitt, who described himself as a tax paying member of the public, wanted to know what action was being taken to deal with doctors who took sick leave, and who approved their sick leave. “What action is being taken to counteract the doctors’ action so taxpayers like me don’t suffer?” Taitt said the Chairman made it seem as if the transfer of Ministry of Health workers to the RHA was easy, “but you have Jennifer Baptiste to deal with,” he added.