Head of Security Resigns after Protest at Scarborough Hospital

Scarborough Hospital

The head of security at the new Scarborough General Hospital in Signal Hill reportedly became a casualty following a noisy lunchtime protest by daily paid staff of the Tobago Regional Health Authority (TRHA) recently. The security head was constructively dismissed, according to staff at the hospital. A well placed source told Tobago News that the official was hauled over the coals by the Board of the TRHA, for his inaction to disband the well-publicized protest activity by aggrieved workers on the delay in paying outstanding arrears to them. “When called upon to report to the TRHA Board about his lack of action on the protest, the officer insisted that he was advised by a superior official not to disband the protesters. Questioned further on who was the person who gave him such instructions he refused to give the name to the Board,” related the source. “During the exchanges, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Paula Chester-Cumberbatch remained silent on the issue,” noted the source. “The Board viewed his refusal to name the senior official as insubordination,” declared the source. Contacted on the issue last Wednesday, Secretary of Health and Social Services Claudia Groome-Duke said according to the information given to her, the officer tendered his resignation, which was considered by the Board. Meanwhile, there are reports that several doctors are up in arms with the attitude and behavior of the Medical Chief of Staff (MCOS) Dr. Nathaniel Duke at the hospital. A senior medical source questioned his appointment to the top post saying that according to established requirements, a doctor must have at least 10 years experience for that position. “We do not understand how Dr. Duke was appointed, as the record shows that he arrived here as a Junior Doctor in 2010,” charged the source. “This situation is a source of great disquiet among the doctors at the hospital,” the source revealed. The hospital has been hit with a virtual exodus of several senior medical staff either resigning or going on extended accumulated leave recently. Some have expressed concerns about the quality of health care at the hospital. On this issue Dr. Duke’s MCOS appointment, Secretary Groome-Duke insisted that his appointed was above board. “I am not aware of these concerns. The interview process was fair and transparent,” she remarked.

Source:Tobagonews

Scarborough Hospital Radiology Department Dysfunctional

Several workers from the Radiology Department of the Scarborough General Hospital, who were given suspension letters by the Tobago Regional Health Authority (TRHA are now in limbo about their situation. One of the workers contacted Tobago News about their plight last week claiming that following protest action by the workers over a number of health and safety issues at Radiology Department of the old hospital at the Fort, the THRA suspended three of the workers.

“It is over six months now since we were suspended, yet we have not heard again from the TRHA about when our matters would be dealt with,” related the worker. No tribunal has been set up by the TRHA to investigate our cases,” added the worker. The worker pointed out that since the relocation of the hospital from the Fort to the new hospital at Signal Hill the new Radiology Department has been plagued with a number of serious issues. “There is no printer for the X-rays, so the hospital has been outsourcing this service to the Calder Hall Medical Center,” charged the worker. Just recently, a Senior Radiologist resigned from the department. This could have a very serious effect on the quality of service as junior staff needs supervision there,” declared the source. Tobago News received a distressed call from a patient recently, who complaining bitterly about doing an internal ultra sound at the new hospital. 

When I took the report to the doctor, it was rejected,” she cried. Can you imagine how it feels to go through a process like that for nothing? It is as if my body was violated as the procedure is an invasive one,” declared the aggrieved patient. Tobago News contacted a medical doctor at the hospital, who confirmed the action. The medic insisted that protocols demanded that junior staff doing such procedures must be under the supervision of a senior officer. “Sadly, the whole radiology department is dysfunctional,” declared the source. 

Contacted on these issues last Tuesday, Secretary of Health and Social Services Claudia Groome-Duke assured that all human resource matters would be discussed next week Thursday. “I will be out of the country from May 3 to 7, so on my return I will be dealing with these issues,” she stated.

Source:Thetobagonews

No Hot Water at New Scarborough Hospital

Image of the front of the New Scarborough Hospital

Patients at the new Scarborough Hospital are being asked to shower with cold water since no hot water is available in the wards. A patient at the maternity ward contacted Tobago News last week Friday and informed this newspaper that only cold–water baths are possible at the facility. “I am accustomed bathing with luke-warm water; it was tough for me to bathe with the cold water, this is unacceptable after millions of dollars were spent,” the new mother stated.

Tobago News understands that the situation is one that has been plaguing the new facility for some time now. “I would like the TRHA and the Division of Health to explain why this situation exists and why it is taking so long to be rectified,” she cried.

The Tobago News reached out to the Secretary of Health and Social Services Claudia Groome-Duke and informed her of our knowledge of the no-hot-water issue. The Secretary directed us to the Tobago Regional Health Authority Board, the autonomous body responsible for the operations of the hospital.

On Thursday, Chairman of the Board Jennifer Brown and Chief Executive Officer Paula Cumberbatch of TRHA were contacted on the matter. Brown responded to our calls later in the evening. She did not confirm or deny if there was indeed an issue with the hot water at the hospital and wondered who our sources were. The chairman asked that this newspaper contact TRHA by email for a response.

In response to our query, the THRA sent a press release indicating that due to an issue detected in the plumbing system, the wards at the Scarborough General Hospital are without hot water. “However, demands for hot water on the wards are being met. NIPDEC is urgently working to address the issue. We would like to note that the Scarborough General Hospital is still under the Defects Liability Period and as such NIPDEC has full responsibility to address any teething issues that may occur in the new facility,” the release stated.

The release did not state how soon the situation would be rectified or if the problem is restricted to wards or the entire hospital.

Meanwhile, the TRHA also stated in its release that the hospital kitchen is now fully functional. “All patient meals are now prepared at the Scarborough General Hospital’s kitchen by our dietary staff. The installation of new equipment continues, to bring the kitchen to its full capacity,” the release indicated.

Source:thetobagonews