Doctors continue to stay away from SFGH

SEVERAL junior doctors continued to stay away from the San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH) yesterday, forcing the Accident and Emergency Department to continue to function on an "emergency only" mode which saw scores of patients being turned away by nurses.

Hospital authorities re-iterated yesterday that only critically ill patients would be seen by doctors, whose attendance had continuously dwindled over the past four days. Acting hospital medical chief of staff, Dr Anand Chatoorgoon, confirmed that several junior doctors continued to report ill yesterday. The doctors have declined to accept the new salary increases offered by the Cabinet-appointed joint negotiating team of the Regional Health Authorities.