By FELICIA RAMPERSAD Thursday, July 24 2008

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FAMILIAR FACES: A funeral programme showing the five GoPaul siblings, all Trinidadians, who died in an accident in the United States one year ago. ...

WITH QUESTIONS surrounding the status of the Point Fortin Area Hospital (PFAH), officials of the South-West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) yesterday said the PFAH is out of their hands.

This was made clear at a public forum held by the SWRHA at Presentation College in San Fernando last night. A new PFAH was promised by Government during the campaign in the run up to the November 5, General Election.

President of the Point Fortin Chamber Francis Bertrand, noted that SWRHA officials seemed to be avoiding the PFAH issue to which, SWRHA Chief Executive Officer Michael Harris said, “The PFAH is no longer in our hands but in the hands of the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (Udecott).”

It was learnt that the PFAH was taken away from the SWRHA jurisdiction approximately two years ago and placed in NIDCO’s charge. It was then transferred from NIDCO to Udecott.

Meanwhile, Executive Medical Director of Health Dr Albert Persaud noted that the situation at the San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH) was steadily improving.

Speaking on recent staff shortages in several departments, Persaud said there is one neurosurgery department, with one surgeon who is currently on post contract leave. “The surgeon was deserving of leave after working every weekend for six years. We have three consultants who are picking up the slack and in emergency cases, we would ask the Port-of-Spain General Hospital or the Eric Williams Sciences Complex to look after cases,” Persaud said.

Persaud mentioned that there were only five neurosurgeons in the entire country. Regarding the burns and plastic department, Persaud noted that there are only three plastic surgeons, with two beyond 65 years.

“We have offered our surgeon, who accepted a VSEP package, a place as a consultant but we are yet to hear from him.” With the ongoing problem of overcrowding, SWRHA noted that there were some plans in place such as a “one day ward.”