NWRHA: Don’t blame Sheranne’s death on lack of CT scan

THE North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) in a statement on Tuesday on the recent death of parliamentary clerk Sheranne Samuel denied her demise was due to a non-functioning CT scan machine at Port of Spain General Hospital (POSGH.)

She had been admitted there last week Monday but died on Sunday.

Reports were that she was admitted with a severe headache but a non-functioning CT machine meant she had to undergo that test privately and then return to POSGH.

The NWRHA extended its sincere condolences to Samuel’s family, relatives and colleagues on her untimely passing.

“Ms Samuel was appropriately medically managed from the time of her arrival at the Accident and Emergency Department, Port of Spain General Hospital until her unfortunate passing.

“As such, any claims alluding that her death was linked to the non-functional CT scan machine are unfounded. The NWRHA advises that while the CT scan machine was being repaired, interim arrangements were put in place to facilitate patients requiring CT scans.”

The NWRHA said CT scan machine services have since resumed at the hospital. “The NWRHA continues to provide clinical excellence and compassionate care to all its patients.”

Samuel’s mother Susan Joefield said a CT scan revealed a massive blood clot on her brain. “They said they had never seen anything like that before. It was rare. For a long time, she had been complaining of headaches, since she was small, in primary school.” Joefield said seven months ago a doctor at Sangre Grande Hospital had given her a letter to do a CT scan, but she had always been too busy studying to get around to doing it.

“I am sorry I didn’t follow up with her. Seven months ago she was to do that. I’m so sorry I didn’t follow up.” Joefield said Samuel was her only daughter, her last child after having had four boys. “She and her boyfriend were to get married. They had been together five years.”

Joefield said her daughter had studied at St Barbs Primary and South East Secondary and then earned a first class degree at London School of Economics, recently getting accepted to Hugh Wooding Law School. Samuel often visited orphanages and homework centres to help children with their school work. She taught sign language to deaf children. “I thank God for the 34 years she spent. She never gave me worries. She did very well in her short time. She had nice ways, no bad ways.” Samuel’s funeral will be held on Friday at 10 am at Trinity Cathedral, Port of Spain.