Officials from the Ministry of Health met with the chief executive officers of all the Regional Health Authorities on Tuesday following a third outbreak of COVID-19 among nurses at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital.
Over the past two weeks, some 25 nurses at the hospital had to be sent on immediate quarantine leave. At least five have since tested positive for the virus. The situation was described by TT Registered Nurses Association (TTRNA) president, Idi Stuart, as “untenable” to Guardian Media.
According to Minister of Health, Terrence Deyalsingh it is also very serious.
“I personally as Minister of Health and at the Ministry of Health- we view that very very seriously. The safety and well-being of our members of staff across all levels of staff is our primary concern,” he said during a virtual press conference.
“We view this so seriously that yesterday (Tuesday) morning, at 8.30, myself, the CMO and the PS met with all CEO’S across the board…to discuss the issue and to come up with solutions to make sure what happens in Port-of-Spain isn’t replicated across the health care system.”
He said the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Roshan Parasram gave his advice on how “to address is from an infection prevention control measure and to alert the doctor in charge of infection prevention control at Port-of-Spain as to possible steps.
Deyalsingh said the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) CEO, Salisha Baksh also met with Stuart after the meeting to explore how they could work together to “find solutions and implement solutions.”
