Health Minister probes ambulance delays after newborn’s death

Shane Superville

Minister of Health Dr Lackram Bodoe has requested a full report into ambulance response times following the death of a newborn at the Mt Hope Women’s Hospital.

Police said the child’s mother went into labour at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya, on Saturday afternoon. The woman told staff she was unaware of the pregnancy, citing irregularities in her menstrual cycle. Her mother reportedly called for an ambulance, but one never arrived.

The woman was eventually taken to Mt Hope, where doctors declared the full-term baby boy dead. Medical staff said the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck and he was covered in meconium, having been delivered into a toilet bowl where he remained for about two hours.

Contacted for comment, Dr Bodoe extended condolences to the family and said the delivery occurred under “very difficult circumstances.” He said the ministry had not yet received all the facts, but confirmed a report has been requested.

“While the matter is being investigated by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, the Ministry has requested a full report into the response time by the ambulance services,” he said.

Global Medical Response of T&T (GMRTT) CEO Dr Paul Anderson said emergency calls had risen gradually over the last three years, increasing by about three to five per cent annually.

He identified long delays at public hospitals as a major challenge.

“Oftentimes, ambulances are on protracted delays; therefore they can’t return to service to respond to other emergencies which may arise,” he said.

Dr Anderson said GMRTT had submitted a report to the ministry outlining current response times, which are governed by contractual requirements. He said targets varied depending on distance, with response times ranging between five and 25 minutes.

He added that GMRTT currently has about 70 ambulances in service, above the contractual requirement of 50, though some older vehicles will be decommissioned.