Doctors at the San Fernando General Hospital have been told that a shortage of anaesthetic drugs will affect surgical services.
Yesterday they received an email titled ‘Critical Shortages Affecting Elective Services at SFGH’.
Guardian Media received a copy of the email which came from Dr Crystal Seuradge the Acting Head of Anesthetics and Intensive Care which said that due to the critical shortages, surgical services will be severely affected.
The email went on to say that there is no Bupivacaine, Diclofenac, Neostigmine, Ephedrine and spinal needles.
In the internal correspondence Dr Seuradge said, “Again, I am reiterating that due to these shortages elective services will be affected severely. As such I am kindly requesting that lists be planned accordingly.”
For some doctors there this setback is just the latest of many.
Speaking under the condition of anonymity, one doctor told us that there are no biopsy needles available for quite some time therefore if a patient needed a prostate biopsy, he would have to buy his own at a cost of $300.
Another doctor told us that the Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy or ESWL machine that uses shock waves to break up kidney stones has been down for months.
Guardian Media understands that the flexible cystoscope which examines the interior of the bladder is also not functioning.
The doctors revealed these problems coupled with the drug shortage will mean patients will have to wait even longer for their elective procedures.
Guardian Media was told that COVID-19 had already significantly contributed to delays. An example was given where if someone came today to the SFGH for an elective procedure, their best-case scenario is getting a date in September.
Attempts were made to contact the Chief Executive Officer of the South West Regional Health Authority, Dr Brian Armour however all calls and messages went unanswered. Guardian Media then forwarded the email we received and questions to the Communications Department which at 3:30 pm yesterday acknowledged our questions and requested an hour to respond.
One hour later they asked for another hour, however up until press time, there was no further response.
