Senior Reporter
shane.superville@guardian.co.tt
The relatives of people receiving treatment at the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department of the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC), Mt Hope, say they fully agree with comments from political leader of the Patriotic Front Mickela Panday, likening conditions at the unit to that of a “warzone.”
Despite this, Minister of Health Dr Lackram Bodoe says that the department is facing challenges due to a large influx of patients and the inability of other health facilities to ease the strain and accommodate the public.
In a post on Facebook last Thursday, Panday claimed that she visited the unit to follow up on the condition of a homeless man whom she helped to receive medical attention, when she observed elderly people on dilapidated beds, while others did not have sheets or pillows.
She lamented the situation and urged the authorities to take action to improve the quality of conditions there.
In response, the North-Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA), which has responsibilities for the EWMSC, rejected what it described as “politically motivated claims of inaction” at Mt Hope.
Last Friday, Guardian Media visited the unit, where some relatives of the patients were seen sitting in the corridor outside the A&E Department.
One woman, who asked not to be named, said her elderly mother was transferred to the unit from the Chaguanas Health Facility around midday on Thursday for treatment relating to an infection.
Recalling the lengthy wait before her mother was eventually seen by a doctor, the woman said she was grateful her mother was discharged without having to stay at the facility longer than necessary.
“She didn’t speak to a doctor until 4 o’clock this morning (Friday). At around 8 am they came and said they would clean the area and administer antibiotics, but it’s sufferation.”
“I saw a guy in there; he came in Tuesday and up to now he ain’t get a bed yet. His toe was cut off and his foot swell up. I now leave him inside of there still waiting for a bed.”
The woman said she felt conditions at the Arima and Sangre Grande Hospitals were far better, noting that even if beds weren’t available for everyone, there were comfortable chairs and seats for visitors.
“They just have people sitting here and suffering. It have people here since 5 o’clock yesterday morning and he only see a doctor maybe an hour before us.”
The daughter of another woman who was admitted to the A&E Department said she experienced firsthand the conditions at the unit when she was treated there for an injury some months ago.
“I spent hours upon hours waiting. I didn’t leave here until after 10 that night and that was only because I insisted that I needed to see a doctor. I was there; I didn’t eat anything. What is going on?”
The woman said her mother was at the department to have her lungs drained of fluid, but said she was barred from visiting due to a policy at the department, which she said stipulated visits to patients to be limited to one relative at a time for only 15 minutes, adding that her sister already visited her mother earlier that morning.
She therefore urged the authorities to give further resources and funding to the EWMSC, with specific focus at the A&E Department, especially with the upcoming National Budget.
Bodoe: Time to consider refurbishment of A&E
Responding to Guardian Media’s questions via WhatsApp on Friday afternoon, Health Minister Dr Lackram Bodoe said the Government was committed to ensuring the public was cared for with quality service and promptly, but admitted that there were “infrastructural and systemic challenges” which he said were inherited when he assumed office last May.
Dr Bodoe said he continued to work with the boards and senior management of all the RHAs to address these issues, adding that the EWMSC was established 45 years ago and was in the process of being upgraded.
To mitigate resources being strained, he said some measures were introduced to enhance capacities.
“Earlier this year, 24/7 services were introduced at the adjacent St Joseph Health Centre to treat with overcrowding at the EWMSC A & E Department.
“Infrastructural upgrades continue in the current A&E department.”
He nonetheless said that the unit still faces challenges in effectively serving the public, pointing to challenges encountered in other health facilities which he suggested contributed to the volume of patients.
“We are fixing this; however, the time has come for consideration to be given to a completely refurbished A&E Department at the EWMSC, together with a review of operations in all the A&E Departments in our public health institutions.”
