Two nurses fired

“How are we so sure that the two people fired are the ones responsible?” questioned Justin’s father Jerome Paul, at his Tunapuna home yesterday.

Paul and his wife Nicola Carter expressed surprise that the two health workers had been dismissed, and that Health Minister John Rahael had not told them the news personally. They found out from the media, and what they learnt has only given them “partial closure,” said Paul, who would like the findings of the probe to be made public.

“We would like to know the names of the nurses who were fired and the circumstances... Was it negligence? Let them go through public exposure. Don’t protect them.”

Rahael told a post-Cabinet news conference at Whitehall yesterday that it was possible to take immediate action after an investigation because the registered nurse and ENA (enrolled nursing assistant) were employed by the North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA). Rahael’s announcement also surprised the NCRHA management which found out during a separate news conference yesterday on the death of six-year-old Anthony Blanc at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, on Monday. The women’s hospital is part of the expansive Mt Hope medical facility.

Rahael said the Ministry of Health had written the Nursing Council referring the matter to them to take whatever further disciplinary action they may deem necessary. The Nursing Council is the authority responsible for licensing nurses. Baby Justin was severely burnt when a hot water bottle was placed in his incubator at the Mt Hope Women’s Hospital, five hours after his birth on April 17.

The burn on Justin’s left arm continues to heal and he and his twin brother James are in good health, their parents said yesterday. Rahael said the nurse who was responsible for instructing the ENA to put “that water bottle” next to the baby without proper protection was obviously negligent. “And therefore action was taken. And we are not prepared to cover up anything, we are not prepared to allow things to go unpunished,” he said. But Justin’s parents remained concerned about the suddenness of the announcement since Rahael visited them on Sunday and told them not to expect any action anytime soon.

“How come they are fired when another incident has taken place at Mt Hope?” asked Paul, referring to Blanc.

The NCRHA and Minister yesterday said Blanc’s death is under investigation. Rahael said he wanted to wait until he had all the facts, before making any comment about Blanc’s death.

But Rahael told the media that unlike the incident involving another child Faith Williams, who died last September, the authorities moved expeditiously in Justin’s case since they didn’t have to go through the Public Service Commission.

However, Carter said when she and Paul requested a copy of the report they were told that they would be unable to access the full details, she said. Their attorney told them they are entitled to a copy of all medical records and material related to the matter. They have since made a formal request for this, she said.

Justin’s parents also sent their condolences to Blanc’s family. They said they would like what happened to Justin to be seen as a test case, “to show that if something goes wrong, people can have action taken.” “Do they expect to be compensated? Yes, “but we would not be knocking at their (the Ministry’s) doors for it. We should not have to ask, it is due to us,” said Paul.