The health official who was sent on administrative leave as part of the investigation into the cluster of deaths at the Neonatal ICU of the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, is back at the hospital. But a senior official of the NWRHA says it is only to help with the probe.
Dr Darrel Jones, head of Infection Prevention and Control at North West Regional Health Authority, was sent on leave on April 18. The NWRHA said at the time that it was “pending the conclusion of the relevant investigations”. It added then there could be more suspensions.
But yesterday, a senior NWRHA official, who asked not to be named, explained that Jones returned because “as part of administrative leave, you’re required to come out to assist with the investigation. There is no presumption of guilt on his behalf”. The official said Jones was “not performing his regular duties” while he was helping with the investigation.
To this day, there have been no accusations of misconduct levelled against Jones by the NWRHA or Health Ministry.
Guardian Media was told Jones was maintaining a brave face but was “hurting.” He has since removed his job title from his LinkedIn profile, although he does still note that he works for the NWRHA.
National Nursing Association (TTNNA) president Idi Stuart said he was told Jones received a warm welcome back. Stuart said he still did not agree with Jones being sent on leave in the first place, as he was too junior a member in the organisation’s structure.
“He’s an excellent, even though junior, he is an excellent doctor, it was really sad,” Stuart said.
Guardian Media was told by an official that the three-member Pan American Health Organisation team was in the hospital conducting interviews with staff members either as teams or individually. They have been accompanied by an NWRHA official.
Stuart commended NWRHA CEO Anthony Blake for allowing a transparent investigation. He said he had not received any reports of anyone refusing to cooperate and he had also encouraged TTNNA members to actively participate in the investigation.
“Don’t hold back. Don’t say everything is okay because you fear for your job,” Stuart urged.
“No. Let the PAHO representatives know what has transpired over what is the norm because what they are going to see now is not the norm. What they are witnessing, with your own two eyes, it is not the norm,” he added.
Stuart claimed with departments trying to make sure they “don’t come out looking bad”, he was aware of certain things being “cleaned up or moved around prior to the arrival”.
But Stuart maintained he had full confidence in the team from PAHO.