Senior Multimedia Reporter
radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
Despite San Fernando being the nation’s industrial capital – surrounded by petrochemical plants, energy companies and heavy industry – specialised burn care remains unavailable in T&T, and severe cases continue to be flown overseas for lifesaving treatment.
This was confirmed on Tuesday by director of health at the Southwest Regional Health Authority (SWRHA), Dr Anand Chatoorgoon, who said the country simply does not have enough specialist doctors and nurses to safely operate a full specialised burns unit.
His comments came in response to a question from Kiran Singh, president of the Greater San Fernando Chamber of Commerce, during the SWRHA’s public board meeting at SAPA.
Singh said the business community welcomed the ongoing hospital expansions and digital upgrades but noted the absence of a burns centre – a longstanding concern given the volume of industrial activity in south Trinidad.
“San Fernando is the industrial capital, and with Point Lisas right there, a burns unit should be a priority,” Singh said.
Dr Chatoorgoon agreed that the issue has been under review for years but said the data does not support establishing a full-scale specialist unit.
“We get only about two cases of severe burns per year,” he explained.
“Superficial burns we can manage at the San Fernando General Hospital, but the severe, third-degree burns require doctors and nurses with specialised skills – and we don’t have them.”
He said burn-care professionals do not remain in the system because they lack regular exposure to complex cases.
“They simply don’t see enough cases to maintain their skills, so they leave,” he said.
“Given the mortality rate for severe burns, the best chance of survival is to send those patients abroad, usually to the Jackson Memorial Hospital.”
Chatoorgoon referenced a recent court case in which a severely burnt patient was airlifted for treatment and the employer later challenged the cost.
“I testified truthfully: we do not have the specialists or the nurses. Sending the patient abroad was the right thing. The family won the case,” he said.
While T&T cannot sustain a specialist burns unit based on current numbers, SWRHA Chairman Anil Gosine revealed that discussions are ongoing about whether a scaled-down burns service could be incorporated into the expanding surgical programme at the Couva Hospital.
“We are still in the process of deciding if Couva Hospital can provide a burns unit,” Gosine said.
“It depends on what level of burns care we want to offer, but it is something we are actively examining.”
He said Point Fortin, another industrial zone, is also being reviewed in long-term planning.
For now, Gosine said the San Fernando General Hospital will continue to manage mild to moderate burns, while the most critical cases – those requiring highly specialised, multidisciplinary care – will continue to be stabilised locally and flown abroad.
