IDA: Tobago's health care lacks accountability

INNOVATIVE Democratic Alliance (IDA) political leader Dr Denise Tsoiafatt-Angus says Tobago’s healthcare system lacks accountability.

Speaking at a media conference on August 13, Tsoiafatt-Angus said many people from across the diaspora would like to return home, but added: “Their greatest concern is: what is the standard of care that I would receive, in my age bracket, coming into Tobago?”

She said while there were many good doctors and nurses working in the system, there were also numerous inefficiencies that resulted in the suffering of many people.

“There have been too many instances where the system has failed our people, leading to tragic loss of life. Families are reporting a deep sense of abandonment by the very system that should have protected their loved ones.”

She called for a change in the management of the island’s health-care system.

“We need policies in place that ensure every death in our hospital is thoroughly examined, not to assign blame, but to identify what went wrong and how better can be done.”

Creating a better system of accountability, she said, is not difficult, as such systems already exist throughout the world.

“In many leading health-care systems, there is a continuous process of auditing equipment and staff competencies to ensure that they meet the highest standards of care.”

She said with such systems in place, public trust and confidence in the island’s health-care could be improved.

“International best practices emphasise the importance of transparency and communication with the families affected.”

IDA secretary Stacy Herbert accused the THA of failing to consult with residents along the Claude Noel Highway in the Shirvan Junction area before devising a new traffic plan. The new roundabout, along with the new roads, Herbert said, was making commutes in the west longer and more costly in terms of increased gas consumption.

“The new traffic pattern, specifically the restrictions of right turns after leaving the roundabout, and proceeding in an easterly direction, has forced us into a situation where the only way to head west is to first travel east, turn at Hampden/Lowlands – which is some 2.3 kilometres away – and then backtrack in order to head west.”

She said it was not just an inconvenience.

“Residents now spend more on gas, just to carry out routines like going grocery shopping or even, as school is going to reopen, dropping off their children to school.

“Taxi drivers dropping passengers inside Canoe Bay can no longer access the Claude Noel Highway on their return, since the exit from Canoe Bay junction is no longer permitted. This places a passenger who wants to stop off between Canoe Bay entrance and Bynoe Avenue in quite some difficulty.”

She argued residents should have been consulted in advance.

Now, she said, “We urgently recommend that there be some re-evaluation in the newly installed traffic patterns which takes into consideration the residents and the businesses in and along Shirvan Park area and significantly alleviates the current stress and economic burden that the residents are now experiencing.”