No more ‘sick’ doctors at South hospital

For the first time in over one month, not a single doctor reported “sick” yesterday, at the San Fernando General Hospital.

Coincidentally, it was the first day on the job for newly appointed Ag Medical Chief-of Staff, Dr Anand Chatoorgoon, who was formally notified of his appointment in a letter signed and dispatched yesterday by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Hamid O’Brien. Chatoorgoon replaced Dr Austin Trinidade who had been sent on 226 compensatory days off. Yesterday the Acting Medical Chief reported that all of the Hospital’s out-patient clinics, as well as its Accident and Emergency department were fully-functional and no patients were transferred to any of the private health institutions. “Not a single sick leave form has been deposited on the desk of the Medical Chief-of-Staff all day,” he said.

Chatoorgoon added: “This is the dawning of a brand new day.” He expressed hope that the ongoing negotiations between the Joint Negotiating Team (JNT) of Regional Health Authorities and the doctors’ representatives, MPATT, would bring an end to the impasse. In a fax late yesterday from MPATT, the association said that after a meeting within the RHAs, it had offered several concessions. “Subsequently,” it added, “compromises have been made by both sides,” and said that MPATT was awaiting word from the chairman of the JNT, Imtiaz Ahamad within 48 hours as promised.

Chatoorgoon also showered praise on Gynaecologist Dr Marwan Abdullah and Consultant Dr Krishna Rampersadsingh for their role on Sunday, in the delivery of a three-pound baby boy to Gail Charles. Charles had begun to experience heavy bleeding after being admitted to the Hospital. With an “on call” doctor refusing to respond to the emergency, Chatoorgoon enlisted the assistance of the off-duty medics who responded to the call for help. The woman was examined and a C-section was performed on her. The hospital reported last evening that both mother and child were “doing well” but continued to be closely monitored by staff.