A&E head at Sando hospital responds to MPATT criticism

SHORTAGE of equipment and manpower are being blamed as the contributing factors to the long waiting time being experienced at the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department of the San Fernando General Hospital. Over the past Emancipation weekend, several patients complained of having to wait for hours before being examined by a doctor. However, A&E Department head, Dr Stephen Ramroop, observed that while wait-time was a worldwide phenomenon, patients were receiving the best possible health care at the local medical institution. “The Casualty Department has eight examination rooms and normally attends to 300 people per day, in comparison to hospitals in a number of major cities around the world which have between 16 to 20 examination rooms and attend to about 150 people per day,” he said. He noted that patients would also occupy examination rooms while awaiting specialised medical attention, which reduces the number of examination rooms available.

He said wait-time was also increased since the processing of X-rays was no longer done at the A&E Department but had been moved to the SFGH’s main building. Dr Ramroop said trolleys available for use by the department was a grand total of four, and transportation of patients for admission to wards was also complicated if an A&E trolley had been seconded for use as a bed due to a lack of space on the wards. He also observed that while shifts of four doctors had been rostered to work at any given period, patients with multiple accident or other injuries usually required the attention of at least three doctors, which meant longer wait-times for other patients. Ramroop called on Regional Health Authorities to advise patients with minor ailments to seek treatment at the district medical facility in their area before venturing to the nation’s main medical institutions. Health Minister John Rahael yesterday said he had spoken to the chairman of the South West Regional Health Authority Imtiaz Ahamad about rectifying the problems being experienced at the A & E Department.

Rahael said he told the chairman to “do whatever is necessary” to address the immediate areas of concern, such as the shortage of trolleys. Rahael said this highlighted the issue of people going to hospitals for ailments that could be treated at health facilities, He said District Health Facilities, (DHF) have A&E facilities and the Princes Town DHF had extended its opening hours. “We are looking at other health facilities opening longer hours so persons will be able to go to the health facility if it is not necessary for them to go to the general hospital.” Rahael said the Ministry would place emphasis on education and awareness about the primary health care system for the new financial year. Educating the public about maintaining good health and avoiding disease would also be a priority.

Dr Ramroop responded to criticism from a member of the Medical Professional Association of TT (MPATT) who said the long wait-time at the A&E Department was as a result of “improper management” of the department. Dr Ramroop, who is six months away from completing an MBA degree in Health Care Management, said the department was being run with the efficiency of a business organisation, adding 55 percent of persons seeking medical attention were treated and discharged. “MPATT does not have a clue about how a Casualty Department is run and therefore they should not be making any statements on the management of casualty,” he said. Dr Ramroop observed while he had the “utmost respect” for the MPATT member, he said health care demands were constantly changing and health care management had to change to meet the demands of society.