CEO of the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) Anil Gosine said yesterday they have had to increase the private and internal security at all of their facilities to provide safety to both staff and patients.
He said in addition to their own private arrangements, they have also requested help from the police to have a regular presence of officers to provide an additional level of comfort and security.
Gosine said that was necessary because of the number of criminals seeking treatment at health centres and hospitals for gunshot wounds, choppings and other injuries from gang warfare.
“Especially on weekends and at the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department we have patients coming in with gunshot wounds and gangs following them in the A&E.
“This is not only happening at SFGH but also at our district health facilities and even in the Area Hospital, Point Fortin. While we have internal and private security you find that the criminal element would be a little more cautious when there are TTPS officers around,” Gosine said.
He said situations like those have been going on for some time “and we have situations where we have to provide counselling for staff based on what is happening.”
Gosine said the crime scourge in the country “has caused us to spend much more funding on security at all our facilities to protect our staff and patients.”
His comments were made after the escape of a murder suspect on Sunday who was supposed to have been under police guard.
The escapee was injured in a shooting incident which also left another man in a critical condition at the same hospital. Hospital authorities fear the suspect may return to finish off the job.
Gosine called on staff not to be afraid. He said while police officers normally guard suspects/prisoners, the escape on Sunday was more the exception than the norm.