South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) executives have kicked contingency plans into high gear as chronic overcrowding continues to cripple the San Fernando General Hospital. The institution's medical director, Dr Anand Chatoorgoon, in an interview yesterday, said the overcrowding situation at the hospital remained the same. On Wednesday evening, a special meeting was convened with Chatoorgoon, acting SWRHA chief executive officer Anil Gosine and the authority's chairman Dr Lackram Bodoe to discuss the overcrowding situation.
A decision was taken at the meeting to fast track the refurbishment of Ward 15 which would give the hospital much needed space for at least 20 beds. "We are trying to fast track that refurbishment...hopefully within a week or two we will have a space available," Chatoorgoon said. Yesterday, elderly patients on Ward 12 complained about bed shortage. One patient, who requested anonymity, said patients were forced to sleep on cardboard on the hospital floor. Another patient, Mary Deonarine, who was warded on Wednesday, said she was in pain after sleeping on a chair. "Oh God, it ain't easy to have pressure and sugar and sitting on a chair all night long," she lamented. "That is stress, all your body paining, your bottom cramping. I trying to get a bed but I go wait. To go home and then come back nah, I would rather make the sacrifice."