Health Minister Dr Lackram Bodoe has announced an investigation into a serious incident that occurred in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at San Fernando Teaching Hospital. A three‑week‑old baby girl sustained hand injuries while receiving treatment for pneumonia.
The infant was born at Point Fortin Hospital on October 9 and was transferred to the San Fernando facility on October 11 to manage a severe case of pneumonia. Within two days of admission, the mother received a telephone call from the NICU staff.
The call informed her that the baby’s hands had been injured, but staff could not explain how the burns occurred. Doctors initially classified the injuries as first‑degree burns that should heal within two weeks.
The mother was advised to meet with plastic surgeons and was later allowed to view her daughter’s hands on October 19. She reported that the condition had worsened and expressed concern about the lack of clarity regarding the cause of the injuries.
The investigation will examine NICU protocols, staff training, and equipment handling to determine whether procedural lapses contributed to the incident. Hospital administrators have pledged full cooperation with the inquiry.
The case has drawn attention to neonatal care standards in Trinidad and Tobago, prompting calls for stricter oversight and improved safety measures in pediatric intensive care units across the country.