6 MATERNAL PATIENTS DIE AT MT. HOPE; FILE GOES MISSING

SIX patients have died at Mount Hope Women’s Hospital over the past few months – including one a few days ago – in what is being called a medical scandal.

Maternal patient Sherrel Jacob, a 41-year-old mother of four, died two Sundays ago and her medical file has since gone missing.

Ms. Jacob lost her life as a result of poor prognosis of her gynaecologist condition by the medical authorities, according to knowledgeable sources.

Her baby survived following emergency Caesarean surgery.

Ms. Jacob’s death follows that in recent months of maternal patients Tricia Stafford, Shanice Cooper, Alissa Chadee, and Denisia Fraser.

Yeshmatee Simon is considered brain-dead in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), medical sources said.

“Since July, she has only been blinking her eyes on an ICU bed, and that is likely to be all she will ever do again,” a source stated.

The deaths are “highly irregular” and “most unusual” for a modern medical institution, health experts said.

“This is a scandalous state of affairs,” a veteran medical practitioner declared.

Two patients – Rose McLean and Ann Marie Nicholas – died in recent months from non-gynaecological medical issues.

In some cases, junior doctors were assigned to the patients and there was little or no supervision, the informed sources said.

With respect to the passing of Ms. Jacob, there are reports that senior medics did not turn up when her care became an emergency matter.

“Three young doctors were on duty for a full 24 hours,” a source stated.

Her condition reportedly deteriorated over several hours.

“There are insufficient medical staff members at the hospital,” a source explained.

“There are about half as many obstetrician-gynaecologists compared to other regional health authorities.”

Questionable promotions of medical officers are also blamed for the inadequate medical care.

One death reportedly took place on a crisis-hit night when there was both a fire and a flood at the hospital.

Sources argued that Medical Chief of Staff Professor Bharat Bassaw has not strongly insisted on the employment of a full staff complement.

“He has not pressed hard enough,” one source stressed.

Bassaw declined to comment, and referred enquiries to Davlin Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA).

Thomas could not be reached.

Steve De Las was recently appointed Chair of NCRHA with a promise to implement “quality standards, systems and operational procedures.”

De Las said priority would be placed on expanding various services and clinics.

The other NCRHA Directors are Elvin Edwards, Randolph Clouden, Yvonne Bullen-Smith, Marie Ayoung-Chee, Dr. Maria Bartholomew, Kadeem Graham, Kimoy Thomas, and Anita Sohan, 

Over the years, there have been several deaths at the women’s hospital.

NCRHA agreed two years ago to pay $150,000 in compensation after a baby died during childbirth.

Mom Jamilah Anne Gonzales brought a lawsuit claiming her first-born died as a result of medical negligence.

NCRHA settled out of court.

A study several years ago said that maternal mortality at the hospital was the result of “substandard clinical management” and other issues.

Dr. Bassaw was part of that study.

There were several deaths earlier this year at the Neo-Natal Unit of Port of Spain General Hospital.

An investigation by Pan-American Health Authority (PAHO) linked the deaths to poor infection prevention and control.

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh has not made any statements on the maternal deaths at Mount Hope.