Patients have not seen a doctor over a week

THE San Fernando General Hospital could soon witness a catastrophe because many patients on medical and surgical wards have not been attended to by a doctor for over a week.

Calling on the Ministry of Health to intervene, Ag Hospital Medical Chief of Staff Dr Anand Chatoorgoon, yesterday said too many doctors were calling in sick. He called on the Ministry to accede to the doctors’ request, or take legal action to bring an end to the doctors calling in sick at the SFGH. Chatoorgoon warned yesterday that the “blow” would be too severe to deal with if the impasse continues for another week.

Yesterday the Obstetrics and Gynaecology ward where pregnant mothers go to have their babies, came to a virtual standstill. Mothers, Chatoorgoon said, had not been attended to by a doctor for an entire week. All but two doctors had called in sick. The hospital medical director said that the entire team of doctors on ward 11 had reported sick. Chatoorgoon said he was forced to call upon retired specialist medical officer Dr Theo Poon King to take charge of the ward. “Dr Poon King has decided to volunteer his services,” Chatoorgoon said. “But I’m appealing to the Ministry officials that if they cannot accede to the doctors’ demands, then find some means, legal or otherwise, to bring the hospital on track,” Chatoorgoon said.

The doctors met yesterday at the SFGH’s lounge to discuss counter proposals the Medical Professional Association of  Trinidad and Tobago (MPATT) submitted yesterday to the joint negotiating team of the Regional Health Authorities.  MPATT is proposing increments for each year of experience, similar to what their Tobago counterparts receive. They are seeking annual increases in salary as well. Another proposal is that overtime/extra duty be paid at the standard rate of two and a half times the hourly rate.

Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays should be paid at a rate of two and a half times the hourly rate. MPATT’s original proposal to the RHA was that triple time be paid. The situation at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC) and Port-of-Spain General Hospital also remains unchanged as doctors continued to be absent. The Adult Priority Care Facility (PCF) has been closed until further notice and the Paediatric PCF was deserted yesterday morning. Chief Executive Officer of the North West Regional Health Authority Dr Lennard Jaggessar was unable to say how many doctors were working as Medical Chiefs of Staff are yet to provide this information despite numerous requests for a list of absent doctors.