The Health Ministry is examining why the CT scanners at both the Port- of- Spain General Hospital and San Fernando General Hospital “coincidentally” went down at the same time, says Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh.
Deyalsingh revealed this in Parliament yesterday after Opposition MP Dr Fuad Khan asked if there has been any evidence of sabotage of the machines.
Public health institutions in North, East and South had been experiencing problems with CT scanners in recent weeks causing concerns among patients.
Yesterday Deyalsingh noted CT machines at both the North and South institutions “coincidentally “(sic) went down simultaneously. He said the ministry is looking at all angles in the matter.
“ But I have no definite report to say it was due to A or B or C, “ he added.
Deyalsingh said the 16 slice CT scanner at the San Fernando General Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department wasn’t working still since a tube was ordered many weeks ago , but the Siemens company overseas had shipped the wrong tube.
He said the correct part has been obtained and the scannner should be functional by tomorrow (FRI).
While Deyalsingh couldn’t give the exact time patients have had to wait for scanner use, he said there’s been no “exacerbated waiting time” since the Ministry continues using private sector CT services - as it did previously - to provide emergency scans. Non-emergency cases are dealt with at Mt Hope hospital.
Opposition MP Dr Lackram Bodoe asked if one company was responsible for servicing all public health sector CT scanners. Deyalsingh asked him to file the query for reply later on.
Deyalsingh confirmed the Internet access to Children’s Life Fund application forms is down. He couldn’t say when it would return to service. Instead, relatives can obtain forms from the Wendy Fitzwilliam Children’s Hospital, Mt Hope or write to the Fund seeking to have forms sent to their health office.
