Valine Lord- Thompson

Head Nurse (Ag) Medical Outpatient Clinic

Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex

17th November, 2017

Mrs. Lisa St Clair

Manager of Medical Unit
Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex

Subject:
INAPPORIATE CONDUCT IN CLINIC

Date and Time:

Wednesday 15th November 2017 at

Location:
Dermatology Clinic
Description of Incident:
On Wednesday 15th November, 2017 at (time), Dr Hallai requested assistance from Nurse A.
Maharaj to call in waiting patients, so that she, Dr Hallai, could review them. Immediately Nurse
Maharaj informed her, Dr Hallai, that she was the only Registered Nurse on duty and is currently
recording vital signs but all her, Dr Hallai, patient’s files were prepared on the trolley. Dr Hallai
was reported to become perturbed and in a disruptive manner she said “I am fed up and the staffs
are lazy and not willing to help”. This behaviour which was disruptive to everyone in the area,
patients included, lasted approximately three (3) minutes. Subsequently to being informed about
the incident, I approached Dr Hallai to enquire what exactly had transpired. I observed that Dr
Hallai was very upset and annoyed even when I was trying to rectify the situation. She became
dissatisfied once more, in which she said “It is unfair that I can get to clinic early and not be able
to start due of lack of space or files”. She also complained that the staffs were not willing to
assist her in the absence of her nurse. I attempted to explain my staffing issues but due to her
temperament at the present time, it was futile.
Clinic Schedules and Details:
 Psychiatry Clinic and Dermatology Clinic- -Wednesdays at 1pm to 4pm
 Dermatology Clinic is currently conducted in the Nephrology area of the Psychiatry
Clinic.
 An average of forty (40) patients is scheduled for each clinic. Due to the limited space
available in the clinic for Nephrology Patients arrangements were made by previous
management to utilize space in Caura Chest Clinic area to conduct Dermatology
Clinic.
  All notes and vital signs are prepared and conducted by my staff for Psychiatry and
Dermatology Clinic.
 Psychiatry patient are seated in the Nephrology waiting area while Dermatology
patients are seated in Caura Chest Clinic area.
 On most days, both Psychiatry and Dermatology Clinic operates until 5pm or later. In
an effort to alleviate this, doctors would begin duty before the stipulated time in an
effort to complete at 4pm. This practice has been facilitated in the past once morning
clinic which is 8-12pm is completed and there are sufficient staffs. This is often rare
since most morning clinic goes beyond 12pm.

Recommendation:
 Doctors should be reminded their allotted clinic hours, for example, Dr Hallai’s Clinic is
carded for 1pm to 4pm.
 Assigned an additional doctor (floater) or patient’s intake numbers should be reduced to a
more manageable size.
 In the absence of personal nurses, the doctor’s should seek assistance from the Head
Nurse so someone could be sourced and assigned to her clinic justly and forthwith.
 The enforcement of a code of conduct to educate the medical staffs about expectations for
professional interactions and the negative effect disruptive behaviour has on patient care.
We are committed to our patient and our aims are to promote health, prevent illness, to restore
health and to facilitate coping. We strive to do this in the most professional, efficient, sensitive
manner that will reflect our dedication and professionalism.

Sincerely
…………………………..
Valine Lord-Thompson
MOPC HN (Ag)

c.c Mrs. Radica Maraj-Lutchman, Manager Nursing Services (Ag)

Mr. Borris Mohammed,