Senior Multimedia Reporter
radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) Chief Executive Officer Dr Brian Armour has denied that essential equipment at the San Fernando General Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is being neglected.
His comment comes amid escalating calls from Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar for a forensic audit of the SWRHA.
Addressing a series of concerns raised during a private motion on healthcare services in the House of Representatives last week during a media conference at the hospital yesterday, Dr Armour said he welcomes the spotlight on the authority, noting his board and their team were dedicated to upholding regulatory standards and executing cost-effective procurement practices.
“Our primary goal is to ensure that every dollar spent is maximised to benefit patient care and enhance healthcare services,” Armour said.
He said since 2016, significant upgrades had been undertaken at the NICU.
“We have expanded our NICU capacity, adding more beds, from 22 to 34, to meet the growing demand for critical care services,” he said.
“Additionally, we have institutionalised our Infection Prevention and Control Committee, and hygiene training and sensitisation programmes are conducted regularly.”
Dispelling allegations of equipment neglect at the SFGH, Armour underscored the authority’s proactive approach to maintaining essential medical equipment.
“From 2016 to now, we have invested significantly in upgrading our infrastructure and equipment to ensure optimal patient outcomes,” he affirmed.
He provided figures, stating, “The total investment in upgrading the NICU facilities amounted to approximately five million, with an additional $2.5 million allocated for infection control measures.”
Addressing concerns surrounding an oxygen-generating machine installed at San Fernando Teaching Hospital in 2013, Armour acknowledged the challenges faced in equipment procurement.
“Despite our best efforts, we have encountered procurement challenges in repairing the oxygen-generating machine,” he explained.
He provided specific figures, saying, “The interim purchase of essential gases has incurred costs of approximately $100,000 per month, totalling over $1.2 million since 2016.”
In a bid to modernise facilities and enhance operational efficiency, he said the SWRHA has embarked on a transition away from outdated boilers to new, independently operating equipment.
“We recognise the importance of maintaining reliable infrastructure to deliver quality healthcare services,” he emphasised.
He also provided financial details, stating, “The total investment in replacing outdated boilers and upgrading heating systems amounted to $3.5 million.”
Providing detailed insights into waste management protocols, Dr Armour outlined the authority’s response to emergency waste removal needs from August to November 2023 with external service providers.
“Emergency waste removal services incurred costs of $261,200 in August 2023 and $1,554,999.95 from September to November 2023.”
He said it was more financially lucrative to decommission the incinerator and outsource.
“Even from a purely financial consideration, the sunk cost to repair relative to the cost is 20 per cent and in general, if the cumulative maintenance cost to operate an equipment is more than 5 per cent of the purchase price, then replacement should be considered. This technology is being replaced with the autoclave and outsourced incineration,” Armour said.
During the motion, Persad-Bissessar claimed the SWRHA has opted not to fix the incinerator, saying it spent $1,553,625 in two months to outsource this service to private companies in 2023.