Doctors back on wards

QUICK action by Health Minister John Rahael yesterday averted a strike by doctors at all South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) institutions.

From 4 pm on Tuesday, doctors at San Fernando General Hospital walked off the wards to protest attacks made against them in the past two weeks. The latest one occurred on Monday when Dr Dexter Furlonge was assaulted in the hospital’s car park.

In a hastily arranged meeting at Paria Suites, La Romaine, late Tuesday evening, Rahael met with Dr Rajendra Persad, vice president of the Medical Professionals Association, SWRHA’s CEO Michael Harris and other executive members. Persad said yesterday Rahael agreed to work on a “formal action plan for security” at all SWRHA institutions.

“Doctors resumed duties last evening (Tuesday), after meeting with Minister Rahael who agreed to the doctors’ demands for increased security at all of the SWRHA health institutions,” said Persad.

Rahael, he added, promised to write Commissioner of Police Trevor Paul to request a police presence at all SWRHA institutions.

Persad said it was agreed that letters would be sent to the National Maintenance Security Company (MTS), which is contracted by the SWRHA, asking for security for all health workers as well as their property.

Persad said it was agreed the prosecution of the person who allegedly assaulted Dr Furlonge was an issue for the police and the courts. Even though Rahael, who could not be reached for comment yesterday, halted protest action, the Medical Association voiced its concern about the security for medical professionals.

“Statistics have proven that 60 percent of our doctors have been verbally abused or physically assaulted in recent times,” the association said in a statement.

Apart from increasing the number of security guards at health institutions, the association also recommended the implementation of in-house security systems.

It advised doctors to be careful when going about their duties.