I am a senior citizen and recently I attended the Maracas Valley Health Centre on a health-related issue. During my wait the senior nurse in charge used the opportunity to make an announcement advising that all patients with referrals will now be referred to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital instead of Mt Hope Hospital. This she explained would not affect pregnant women and children.
This new arrangement caused much concern to all present as this new system will certainly affect patients especially the senior citizens. It was quite convenient for all to visit Mt Hope when necessary, however, with the new plan, citizens will now have to travel to Curepe then to Port-of-Spain and then on to upper Charlotte Street.
This is certainly a burdensome task financially and otherwise, especially for the senior citizens who are generally very poor and most do not have access to a vehicle.
While the geography may suggest Maracas Valley is a part of Port-of-Spain, Mt Hope is a stone’s throw away and quite convenient and practical. This move would not make things easier for the patients.
If the new system is to stay, I humbly suggest that all senior citizen patients with a referral should be accepted at Mt Hope Hospital as a matter of importance.
I appeal to the relevant authorities, the Minister of Health, our Member of Parliament (St Ann’s east) to step in and bring a measure of relief and comfort to all those who would be affected. By so doing you would have turned a negative into a positive.
Joseph Maraj
La Seiva Village, Maracas Valley