Sue-Ann Wayow
AN immediate audit has been ordered for all clinical appointments scheduled at the Eric Williams Medical Science Complex in Mt Hope.
Health Minister Terrance Deyalsingh in responding to urgent questions in the Upper House on Tuesday by Opposition Senator David Nakhid said on Monday the North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA) board had an emergency meeting with the executive management team.
Nakhid asked, “In light of recent reports of the repeated postponements of medical appointments at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, can the Minister indicate what specific steps are being taken to address this situation?”
Deyalsingh responded, “We ordered an immediate audit of all outpatients clinical appointments both medicine and surgical to determine the magnitude of the problem and the number of patients affected. We are strengthening our telemedicine initiative to assess and triage patients determining their need and urgency for care.”
Telemedicine according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) is: “The delivery of health care services, where distance is a critical factor, by all health care professionals using information and communication technologies for the exchange of valid information for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease and injuries, research and evaluation, and for the continuing education of health care providers, all in the interests of advancing the health of individuals and their communities”
Deyalsingh said, “We have instituted already a pharmacy pickup collection service to be established for stable patients requiring refilling of prescriptions. We are reviewing the appointment system and we have done an operation review of the clinic management process with a view of improving efficiency throughput and patient comfort while maintaining all Covid protocols guidelines and public health measures to ensure safety and to mitigate risks to both patients and staff.”
