Petition to get St James wound clinic reopened

A PETITION has been started by a patient of the St James Medical Complex Wound Clinic to have it reopened. April 1 was the Wound Clinic's last day.

Sixteen people signed the petition, 13 of whom attend the clinic. Wound care patients have been referred to clinics in hospitals in their districts for treatment.

Salisha Baksh, acting CEO of the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA), said the doctor running the clinic was no longer able to continue and since the clinic was underutilised, management made the decision to close it.

"The Wound Clinic treated approximately two to three patients per clinic day. Ideally, a clinic of this nature should treat approximately ten to 15 patients per clinic day, which is the norm at the other clinics performing these services," Baksh told Newsday on Friday.

The clinic had 18 patients when the doctor indicated she was unable to provide her service.

"It was determined it would be best to refer these patients to appropriate clinics in both the primary care and secondary care systems based on the patient’s required level of care."

Dera Harrilal started the petition. For six years she has lived with a severe venous ulcer on her left leg. Previously she got treatment at a clinic at the San Fernando General Hospital, but was not pleased with the care there. She started attending the Wound Clinic in October 2019 and believes her leg is healing better since.

"She (the doctor) would treat my leg according to what it needed. Sometimes it just needs water, sometimes it just needs rewrapping and sometimes it had an infection and she would treat it and tell me come back in two weeks. In San Fernando they treat my wound the exact same way."

Harrilal said the wound clinic is not advertised and blames the lack of marketing for why it is underutilised.

"How could people know about the clinic if they don't tell people about it?"