Tobago hospital Board given 3 more days to repair kitchen

The Board at the Scarborough Regional Hospital has been given an additional three days to effect repairs to the hospital’s kitchen. Hospital officials did not heed the first 72-hour deadline, which expired today, to clean the kitchen area to prevent it from being shut down. On Friday, health inspectors removed a quantity of foodstuff  including chicken, fish and butter from the hospital’s kitchen, which they deemed unfit for human consumption.

County Medical Officer for Health, Dr Mentor Melville, said only one corroded pipe and two cupboards have been replaced, even though the list handed in Friday included the installation of better facilities for prepared food, cleaning, sanitising and provision of stainless steel work surfaces, replacement of a thermometer on the freezer, and provision of hot holding facilities for prepared foods. Melville said his division did not intend to close the kitchen, but wanted the hospital to provide clean, bacteria-free food for the patients. Around noon yesterday, members of the Board including  the chairman, chief executive officer and medical director, met with the health inspectors to discuss more health and safety measures for the kitchen and for the 80 patients at the hospital.