ATTORNEYS for the families of the babies who died at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the Port of Spain General Hospital (PoSGH) want to know the status of a baby who was allegedly transferred there from a private institution.
On April 11, the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) revealed in a statement that from April 4-7, there had been a rapid “deterioration in the clinical status of several neonates” and they had died.
The cause of their deaths is said to have been bacterial infections.
Two days later, attorneys from Freedom Law chambers, led by former attorney general Anand Ramlogan, SC, issued a pre-action protocol letter which spoke of a baby transferred from a private hospital to the NICU at the PoSGH.
On April 18, another pre-action protocol letter was sent to the NWRHA on behalf of Jodie and Travis Molino, parents of twin girls Ella Luccia and Esme, who died on March 18 and April 4.
The letter asked for information on the baby allegedly transferred from the private institution to the PoSGH.
“Why was this baby not properly isolated to minimise the risk of transmission? Why was the medical staff not wearing proper PPE (personal protective equipment) and washing their hands and properly sanitising in accordance with the established and required healthcare protocols for the NICU? What is the present status of this baby?
“Did that baby die or was the PoSGH able to save that baby’s life? And if so, why was similar care not afforded or given to our clients’ healthy babies who did not have any form of infection at the time they were placed in the NICU?”
April 18’s letter came on the same day the NWRHA announced that the head of the infection prevention control unit at the PoSGH had been suspended.
A statement from the authority said its board had determined that the head of the unit would be sent on administrative leave pending the outcome of investigations into the presence of several types of bacterium in the NICU. This led to the infection and subsequent deaths of seven newborn babies between April 4 and 9.
The NWRHA said as the investigation progressed, it would make further recommendations for suspension if such action was deemed necessary.
“The authority also wishes to advise that it will make a further statement as it relates to the additional neonates for whom it has also received pre-action protocol letters,” the statement added.
On April 17, Freedom Law’s attorneys, who said they intended to file a class-action lawsuit on behalf of the parents of the babies who died at the NICU, revealed the number of deaths, according to their instructions, so far, had reached 11.
April 18’s letter again questioned the delay in providing the babies’ medical notes and records despite Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh's promise in Parliament on April 15 that they would be made available on April 16 or April 17 at the latest.
The NWRHA was given a deadline of April 15.
The authority’s attorneys said the records were being photocopied and scanned.
The letter also said t
