Medics go back to work at Sando

THE month-long sick-out by doctors appeared to have ended at least at the San Fernando General Hospital, with a retrun to work at the weekend of both junior and senior medical officers.

The SFGH saw an almost full turnout of doctors at the Accident and Emergency department and the medical and surgical wards yesterday. South West Regional Health Authority chairman, Imtiaz Ahmad, in confirming this, told Newsday yesterday: “We seem to have been heading for a return to service. I think the doctors were pleased with the outcome of the negotiations, with only two issues left unsettled.” Ahmad said that prior to Friday, there was an increase in doctors working at the hospital. He added that even after a protest of some 30 doctors against Dr Anand Chatoor-goon’s appointment as Ag Medical Chief of Staff, the doctors returned to their respective jobs.

There are 130 doctors working at the SFGH. Chatoorgoon told Newsday yesterday that since Thursday last, his office had not received any sick leave from doctors, nor has any medical officer reported sick. Chatoorgoon said that he was at his office on Saturday and that patient admissions from A & E ap-peared to have been normal. “I met and spoke to several senior doctors. That is an indication that they are back,” Chatoorgoon said. Contacted yesterday, president of the Medical Professional Association of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr Colin Furlonge, ans-wered the call on his cellular, but when this reporter identified himself from Newsday, he switched off the phone. Repeated efforts to contact him seconds afterwards were met with a voice message.