Trinidade must explain why no leave

DR Austin Trinidade may not be returning soon to his post as Medical Chief of Staff of the San Fernando General Hospital, SFGH. That is at least not until he tells the Ministry of Health why he should not proceed on “Compensatory Time Off”.

In a letter sent to Trinidade yesterday, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Hamid 0’Brien, referred to discussions held between the two men over the weekend. He stated, “You are therefore requested to indicate whether you are in agreement that the Compensatory Time Off which you have earned and not utilised within the stipulated time, be added to your vacation leave eligibility.” Last week 0’Brien directed Trinidade to proceed immediately on leave, but Trinidade refused. He subsequently obliged, but wrote to 0’Brien indicating that he did not wish to proceed on leave. The Permanent Secretary acknowledged Trinidade’s unwillingness to proceed on leave, saying, “I note that you have stated your unwillingness to proceed on leave at this time. I shall be grateful if you will provide the reasons in writing. I look forward to an early response.” 0’Brien’s letter ended by directing Trinidade that he is to remain on leave until the issue is resolved.

0’Brien’s letter to Trinidade yesterday stated that his (0’Brien’s) instruction to him to proceed on Compensatory Time Off, did not constitute disciplinary action “of any type nor is it reflective of your performance as Medical Chief of Staff of the San Fernando General Hospital.” The move was part of an exercise, 0’Brien explained, in which he proposes to regularise and reduce the backlog of compensatory leave which medical officers have earned and not utilised. Dr Anand Chatoorgoon has been appointed to act for Trinidade. While Dr Shaheeba Barrow assumed the role of Ag Medical Chief of Staff at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital yesterday, she was not confirmed in the position. A meeting is scheduled to take place today to decide who will be appointed. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health’s decision to send Dr Austin Trinidade on long leave is being met with some level of opposition from a few doctors at the San Fernando General Hospital.

Consultants who are Heads of Departments held a meeting on Friday, and in a release issued yesterday, stated that a  unanimous decision was taken last week Friday to support Trinidade as Medical Chief of Staff.  The release stated that the heads decided that they were unwilling to accept “any new appointee to the post”. Dr Anand Chatoorgoon, who is head of the department of Anaesthetics, has been appointed by the Ministry of Health to act in Dr Trinidade’s absence. The consultant doctors requested that the Ministry of Health rescind its letter to Trinidade which requested him to proceed on leave amounting to 226 compensatory days. The release listed the names of 14 heads of department, but only nine consultants signed. Yesterday, the Ministry of Health issued a release stating that Chatoorgoon is the acting medical director. Signed by Public Relations Officer, Keith Sancho, the release stated: “The truth of the matter is that Dr Anand Chatoorgoon is the Ag Medical Chief of Staff at the San Fernando General Hospital while Dr Austin Trinidade remains on leave.” Chatoorgoon said yesterday that patient care was improving drastically at the hospital. No doctor reported ill for the second day yesterday and all the clinics functioned, he said.