No impasse at Sando hospital

DOCTORS ATTACHED to the San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH) did take sick-out action over the long Emancipation Day weekend. This was confirmed yesterday by Dr Jehan Ali, Head of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit at the hospital and a senior official of the Medical Professionals Association of TT (MPATT). According to Dr Ali, a “pile up” of patients at the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department was the result of insufficient doctors being rostered for duty.

“The situation at the Accident and Emergency Department has been happening for quite awhile and has nothing to do with any alleged impasse involving doctors,” he explained. Dr Ali said patients seeking emergency treatment at the hospital would continue to experience “unnecessary delays” because the Department is not being properly run. “The Administration in the Casualty department leaves a lot to be desired,” said Dr Ali who questioned why patients with referral letters for admission were made to wait for an examination by a “junior doctor.” However, he reiterated: “There is no impasse at the San Fernando General Hospital. Doctors who are on call have all responded for duty and have not withdrawn their services.” Dr Ali said a statement by MPATT’s acting President Dr Lakhan Roop about doctors’ frustrations over the slow pace of negotiations for registrars and consultants had been “misinterpreted.”

Ali said: “These negotiations, which began since February, have been stalled for a long time and we wrote to Minister Rahael in July outlining our concerns, and called on him to discuss the situation with the Joint Negotiation Team.” Dr Ali said MPATT had “every confidence” in the Minister’s ability to resolve the situation. “So far we have not received any reply, but that was only forwarded to the Minister in mid-July so we have given him time to respond. Doctors have indicated that they would use whatever power is available to them to resolve the situation, including withdrawing their services on weekends and public holidays. “But there was never any plan to withdraw our services until we have given the Minister sufficient time to respond.” Dr Ali explained that negotiations for house doctors had been settled, while those for  remuneration packages for registrars and consultants had “stalled.”