NWRHA Sends Senior Hospital Official On Administrative Leave

The Lead of the Infection Prevention Control Unit attached to the Port of Spain General Hospital is proceeding on administrative leave to facilitate investigations into the deaths of seven neonates at the facility's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). In a media release on Thursday, the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) indicated its Board of Directors made the decision to send the Lead of the Infection Prevention Control Unit on administrative leave. The NWRHA said that as the investigation matures, it may make further recommendations for suspension, if deemed necessary, to advance the investigations. The Authority also confirmed that a further statement will be made as it relates to the additional neonates for whom it has also received pre-action protocol letters. On Wednesday, a pre-action protocol letter from Freedom Law Chambers was served to the NWRHA, revealing that four additional babies had succumbed due to bacterial infections.