By CLINT CHAN TACK Saturday, February 4 2012

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ELITE CENTRE: The world renowned Walter Reed Hospital in Washington DC where stroke victim Patrick Manning (INSET) will be flown to sometime this week...

PRIME MINISTER Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday said she has approved a sum of US$91,000 (TT$585,130) to pay for an air ambulance to transport former Prime Minister Patrick Manning to the prestigious Walter Reed General Hospital in Washington DC for additional medical treatment for the stroke which he suffered two weeks ago.

Speaking with Newsday prior to a news conference of political leaders of the parties making up the People’s Partnership coalition, at Tower D of the Port-of-Spain International Waterfront Centre, the Prime Minister disclosed that her Permanent Secretary Reynald Cooper sent her a request from Manning’s family on Thursday, asking that the ailing 65-year-old San Fernando East MP be sent overseas to receive additional medical treatment.

Persad-Bissessar said on Thursday she advised the weekly Cabinet meeting at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s, that she would approve this request. “I have approved it verbally,” she said. Persad-Bissessar added that once she arrived at her offices at Tower D, she will sign a document to authorise use of these funds to pay for an air ambulance to transport Manning overseas for medical treatment. Asked when Manning would be leaving the country, Persad-Bissessar said she was advised this would take place sometime this weekend.

Manning has been warded at San Fernando General Hospital since he suffered a stroke at his Sumadh Gardens, Vistabella home in San Fernando on Monday January 23. He was initially warded at the hospital’s intensive care unit before being transferred to its high dependency unit. When news of Manning’s illness broke, the Prime Minister said she directed Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan to provide whatever resources were necessary to ensure Manning receives the best possible medical care. Saying that Manning will be accompanied to Washington DC by his wife Hazel, Persad-Bissessar said Cabinet will ratify the document which authorised funding to pay for the air ambulance for Manning.

Walter Reed General Hospital was established in 1909 and is regarded as the US Army’s flagship medical centre. The facility grew from a bed capacity of 80 patients to approximately 5,500 rooms covering more than 28 acres (113,000 m²) of floor space. Over the years several prominent US political figures have received treatment at this hospital. On July 13, 1985 then US President Ronald Reagan had surgery at the hospital to remove polyps from his colon. Reagan underwent surgery at the hospital on January 5, 1987 for prostate cancer

At yesterday’s sitting of the House of Representatives, Speaker Wade Mark announced that he received a request on behalf of Manning asking that he be excused from sittings of the House for a period of 90 days due to “continued illness.”

Told about Government’s assistance in having Manning sent abroad for treatment, Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley, during the tea break at the sitting of the Lower House, said: “We are aware of his condition and it is one that requires extended recuperative periods. He is entitled to the best care that’s available.”

During the sitting, Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal made passing reference to the 90-day period which Manning would be absent from Parliament. Moonilal quipped that Rowley seemed “revitalised” and wondered whether it had to do with, “a visit to San Fernando” when he was unable to see Manning in hospital.