President of the TT Registered Nurses Association Idi Stewart said association members were shocked and horrified over the deadly gun play at the Port of Spain General Hospital (PoSGH).
"As these young men engage in their own turf war, they don't see the need to differentiate safe zones. It appears that the past respect shown to places of worship and hospitals is no more," Stewart said.
In a telephone interview on Monday, Stewart cited a 2019 killing at the PoSGH when a man dressed as a hospital orderly came onto Ward Three in the night and stood over a patient who was nursing stab wounds. The suspect shot and killed the 25-year-old man.
Stewart said the 2019 shooting took place in full view of staff and patients.
"The association at that time requested a number of areas to be addressed. One of those was the issue of having a reduced number of exits and entrances to the facility because it’s quite open to the public."
He said the association also requested at that time for all nursing staff to be provided with health insurance, life insurance, and a hazard allowance, but it was never given. His association subsequently provided health and life insurance.
"The government of the day did not see it fit to provide for nursing personnel. We were only asking them to assist with a small contribution to offset costs. Unfortunately, the Ministry of Health did not find that warranted, as they currently do for those in the protective services."
He said the association met with NWRHA staff and its CEO Anthony Blake, to discuss security plans on Monday. Also visiting the PoSGH on Monday was Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh.
"We won’t divulge those plans, but we commend the authorities for implementing some of those plans almost immediately."
Stewart said he still has security concerns and stressed that an emergency plan needs to be implemented.
"Drills need to be carried out in case this occurrence raises its head again.” Stewart said there is no formal training or plan in place for active shooters.
"There is some training provided by Northwest sporadically to staff in terms of managing aggressive patients, but this is by no means close to what transpired yesterday. It doesn't come close to addressing active shooting scenarios."
He believes the hospital’s location in a hot spot warrants urgent int
[caption id="attachment_1087518" align="alignnone" width="1024"] An ambulance parked at the A&E department where on Sunday night, gunmen opened fire on people who had just arrived at the facility seeking treatment after being shot earlier in Gonzales, Belmont. PHOTO BY ROGER JACOB -[/caption]
ervention to prevent any future shootings.
"We have limited human resources, so as an authority, we are calling on the government to develop plans to mitigate any future shootings."
Staff, patients worried, jittery
When Newsday visited PoSGH on Monday there was a visible increase in security with both police and private security guards present. As Newsday waited for Deyalsingh to complete his meeting wit
