13 men get hernia ease

Thirty seven-year-old Ellis Gray has been waiting five years for hernia surgery at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. Yesterday it was done but at Good Health Medical Centre, Fitzblackman Drive, through the “goodwill surgery programme” undertaken by Medcorp Ltd in which 100 free same-day surgeries will be done for the Ministry of Health. The programme started in May. Gray, who is a carpenter, said he was living with “pain and stress” since the hernia appeared in 2000. He said the condition slowed down his life. Gray sought medical attention at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital (PoSGH) but screening for the surgery was postponed several times. “Only date after date after date, that was all I was getting,” Gray said from his hospital bed at Good Health.       

Pensioner Aldwin Farell said a hernia caused him suffering for the past four years. Although he was prescribed painkillers, he said some days they did not work. He has been waiting a year for surgery. Gray and Farell were thankful to  God, the hospital and Health Minister John Rahael for relief from their days of pain. Thirteen hernia surgeries were scheduled to be done yesterday, bringing the total number of surgeries performed under the programme to 43. The estimated cost of each procedure is $6,000. During a visit with patients, Health Minister John Rahael told the media the waiting list for hernia was the largest—with 1,000 people at PoSGH and San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH). He said the collaborative effort between Medcorp and the Ministry is aimed at eliminating the long waiting list. Rahael said more surgeries will be performed in east Trinidad through a similar arrangement, and negotiations are taking place with a private hospital in San Fernando to assist with the south waiting list. 

In addition, Rahael said that more surgeries were being done at PoSGH and SFGH. He referred to the increase in theatre time with four surgical theatres functioning at PoSGH and seven theatres at SFGH. Another theatre will be opened at both hospitals. Rahael said Tobagonians have also benefited from cataract surgery and they will also receive hernia surgery. More fibroid surgeries are also due to be performed in August at St Clair Medical Centre, St Clair. Providing an update on major refurbishment of PoSGH, he said the over $30 million contract is still being “fine tuned.” He said areas of increased cost to the contractor are being examined “and as soon as National Insurance Property Development Company Ltd concludes that negotiation, we will begin refurbishment.” Rahael said no agreement has been reached with the private hospitals regarding assistance with surgeries on a fee for service basis.