Chatoorgoon happy with Health Inquiry

Former acting Medical Chief of Staff at San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH), Dr Anand Chatoorgoon, has welcomed Government’s probe into the health sector. Chatoorgoon also noted yesterday, however, that current SFGH’s medical director, Dr Colin Furlonge, was performing a magnificent job in improving health care at the hospital. Dr Furlonge, who had legally challenged Chatoorgoon’s elevation to the post based on seniority, took over from the latter earlier this year as acting Medical Director after Dr Austin Trinidade was sent on 15 months leave. “I must say that Dr Furlonge is addressing the issues in the hospital. Though there is room for lots of improvement, things are looking up in the hospital,” Chatoorgoon said.

Chatoorgoon, who is head of the Anesthetics Department at the hospital, told Newsday that a Commission of Inquiry into the health sector would reveal the weaknesses in the health system. Recommendations on ways to improve it would only redound to the benefit of the public. One such area was the long surgical waiting list, Chatoorgoon added, and the need for haemodialysis for kidney patients. There are four to six dialysis machines at the hospital, Chatoorgoon said, “but two were not functioning.” A probe into the health sector will expose the high price kidney patients have been paying for dialysis treatment. Showering praises on Furlonge for “addressing the issues,” Chatoorgoon said the hospital needed what he termed a “dependency unit.” Chatoorgoon is of the view that there should be one nurse to every “high risk patient” on a dependency ward.