Minister promises new equipment for hospital

HEALTH MINISTER John Rahael promised new equipment for the Neonatal Ward of the Port-of-Spain General Hospital on Thursday. Tenders are to be issued for the purchase of new equipment, Rahael said yesterday, to furnish the ward. Head of the Neonatal Ward, Dr Petronella Manning-Alleyne, reportedly complained that the ward was being neglected by the North-West Regional Health Authority in favour of the Paediatric Department of the Mount Hope Maternity Hospital.

Speaking to reporters in Princes Town, Rahael said tenders would be issued within two weeks to acquire new neo-natal equipment for the ward. Manning-Alleyne had reportedly issued a call for an urgent supply of monitors, infusion pumps and suction machines. On the issue of the nurse shortage, Rahael said he intends to take a plan to Cabinet in order to increase the incentives for nurses to remain at local medical facilities. “This would decrease the number of nurses being recruited to the United States and United Kingdom,” Rahael said. He did not disclose the details of the incentives.