By Prior Beharry
THERE are currently 65 intensive care unit (ICU) beds in the parallel healthcare system to take care of Covid-19 patients in Trinidad and Tobago.
Five of those beds are in Tobago with two currently occupied.
These figures were revealed by the Ministry of Health Principal Medical Officer of Institutions Dr Maryam Abdool-Richards at the Covid-19 virtual media conference on Wednesday.
She gave the breakdown of ICU beds as follows:
- Couva Hospital and Multi-Training Facility – 26;
- Augustus Long – 10;
- Arima General Hospital – 12;
- Point Fortin Hospital – 6;
- St James Medical Complex – 6; and
- Scarborough General Hospital – 5.
Dr Abdool-Richards said a significant number of people entering the hospital needed critical care.
She said between June 28 and before yesterday (November 9) there were fewer than 400 patients in the hospitals in the parallel healthcare system.
She said, however, yesterday there were 405 patients and this morning there were now 427 patients in the hospitals in the parallel healthcare system.
Dr Abdool-Richards said the occupancy level was under 40% for 113 days in the parallel healthcare system but is now 47% overall occupancy. The level in Trinidad was 49% while it was 33% in Tobago.
She said 52 ICU beds out of 60 in Trinidad were operational and activated.
Dr Abdool-Richards said out of the 52 patients in ICU in Trinidad, 46 of them or 92% were not fully vaccinated.
She said at 8 am today, there were 52 people awaiting transfer from accident and emergency (A&E) departments to the parallel healthcare system.
Dr Abdool-Richards said seven of these people were receiving ICU level care in the A&E and none of them was fully vaccinated.
She said, “Patients continue to present to the A&E in a severe and critical condition.
“So when the ambulance is contacted to collect these patients they have to be placed on oxygen and upon arrival to the A&E they are in receipt of ICU level care management.”
She said a significant number of people in the parallel healthcare system was not fully vaccinated.
Dr Abdool-Richards said 4,809 out of 5,166 patients or 93% in the parallel healthcare system from July 22, 2021 to October 20, 2021 system were not fully vaccinated.
