Women boycott Mt Hope Maternity

The Maternity Department of Port-of-Spain General Hospital (PoSGH) has been crowded since the latest enterobacter scare at Mt Hope Women’s Hospital because many expectant mothers are boycotting the facility. A nurse at the facility said that over the Christmas weekend “the entire department was bursting at its seams.”

Public confidence in Mt Hope has been undermined following two publicised outbreaks of enterobacter in September and October. “I am just afraid. You can never tell what will happen,” said a young woman as she cradled her baby. Her sentiment was echoed by other women. The traditionally quiet Christmas period turned into chaos last week when the antenatal ward which has a 24-bed capacity was “filled and overflowing.” Women who reached their due date had to sit on benches while waiting to be admitted. The eight beds at the “first stage” area, accommodating women going into labour, were also filled. The Labour Room had over 20 patients including the “spill over” from the other wards.

The two beds in the “infection area” for HIV positive women had to be used since 17 women were in the Labour Room which has a seven-bed capacity. This was because some women had to be diverted from the delivery area which was “filled at the seams.” Two additional beds were brought into the Labour Room while the excess had to be accommodated on trollies because there was no place to put them. The source said the influx was “nonstop,” with women coming from as far as Gasparillo. On Christmas Eve there were 20 patients and 12 births. There was a point where nurses were no longer screening women but had to use “whatever bed was available.” Others had to be turned away and asked to return. The source said staff has been so overworked they are calling in sick. On Christmas Eve, there was one junior midwife working and staff had to be pulled from other areas.

A 36-year-old woman from Gasparillo said three weeks ago she went to Mt Hope. She said she heard it was cleaned following the first enterobacter outbreak, but what she saw made her change her mind. The bed she was given had shaved hair strewn about, from the patient who had previously occupied it. The woman said she told the nurse who responded “oh shucks” and started to change the sheets. She asked her doctor to transfer her to PoSGH.