Cancer patients who showed up for diagnostic tests at Southern Nuclear Medicine were turned back after an early-morning fire at the San Fernando clinic yesterday. Director and medical physicist Anthony Archibald said the damage meant the clinic, at Pointe-a-Pierre Road, Vistabella, would be closed until January and its 40-plus patients would be asked to travel to the Arouca clinic.
At least four patients were scheduled for appointments yesterday. Police are probing whether the fire was deliberately set, as the businessplace was also robbed of a small sum of cash. A report said that receptionist Joanne Barker arrived at work around 5.30 am and noticed a fire in the reception area. She contacted the Mon Repos Fire Station and San Fernando police, who responded and managed to save part of the building.
The office of Bob Gopee and Associates, chartered accountants, on the upper floor, was spared damage. Speaking outside the building, Archibald said the bone-density scanner, with an estimated value of between US$20,000 and $25,000, was destroyed. The scanner was used to detect indicators of osteoporosis and fracture risk.
He said the staff were yet to check some of the other equipment as there was no power in the clinic. Meanwhile, Barker continued work in the garage of the building. Archibald explained: “This morning I got a text around 7.30 from my office manager in north, while I was leaving home in Tacarigua, stating that our south office was on fire.
“When I went to the office, then I was informed about what really happened. It seems that the fire started from the reception area, because there had the most damage. “Smoke and fire then spread to other areas.” He said a preliminary estimate said to have the clinic up and running by January might cost between $80,000 and $100,000.
