Dr Fuad Khan's move is a followup to his expression of "disgust" over a report that Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) refused to provide assistance to Stacy Simon and her dying son Akhail, last Friday.
The 21-month-old infant's mothers asked the ambulance personnel to take her and the child to the hospital but they refused citing company policy. The child was pronounced dead on arrival at the San Fernando general Hospital.
Following Khan's initial reaction, the Chief executive officer of the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA), Anil Gosine, confirmed that the ambulance in question was from the SWRHA and added that the personnel were just following policy.
Khan told reporters he met with the ministry's officials to discuss the issue and indicated that there was no written policy on such a matter.
"The legislation dictates that there are different grades of ambulance. I have directed the executive to bring me some information concerning these grades of ambulances and what they are supposed to contain. I am going to change the policy so that whatever happened will not happen again," the minister pledged.
He said the new policy should be implemented "very soon", adding that all ambulances, whether privately owned, State-owned or contracted, would have to adhere to the policy.
"An ambulance means that you have everything in there to take care of a person in need. You don't know when somebody in need will require certain equipment and certain efficiencies.
Khan told reporters he met with the ministry's officials to discuss the issue and indicated that there was no written policy on such a matter.
"The legislation dictates that there are different grades of ambulance. I have directed the executive to bring me some information concerning these grades of ambulances and what they are supposed to contain. I am going to change the policy so that whatever happened will not happen again," the minister pledged.
He said the new policy should be implemented "very soon", adding that all ambulances, whether privately owned, State-owned or contracted, would have to adhere to the policy.
"An ambulance means that you have everything in there to take care of a person in need. You don't know when somebody in need will require certain equipment and certain efficiencies.
"So once you put the word ambulance on your vehicle, it has to have the basic equipment and qualified personnel. If you don't have that then they will have to call it something else."
Gosine said he agrees that change should be made to better serve the public.
Gosine said he agrees that change should be made to better serve the public.
No comments:
Post a Comment