By LARA PICKFORD-GORDON Monday, February 8 2010

A CARONI family is appealing for the intervention of Health Minister Jerry Narace after their relative was told that orthopaedic surgery to repair a broken leg could not be immediately done at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope because the equipment was not available until next month.

Thirty-year-old Beena Mathura of Back Street, Caroni, was injured after 4 am yesterday as she and her husband Jensen Hosein were leaving the Chutney Brass show at Guaracara Park, San Fernando.

In an interview Hosein told Newsday that two men got into a scuffle outside the venue. One of them was shoved and landed on Mathura’s leg causing her to fall to the ground.

She was rushed to the EWMSC, Mt Hope about an hour later and examined. X-rays were done which showed that her left leg was broken in three places.

A senior doctor saw Mathura at 8 am and advised that she had to discuss with her family whether she wanted a cast put on the leg because surgery could not be done. The doctor however said by putting on a cast the leg would not heal properly. He said surgery could not be done at the time because the hospital did not have the equipment but expected to get new tools in March.

Mathura, who is self-employed was told she could be put on a waiting list with other cases or try and get surgery at a private facility. Mathura’s family cannot afford surgery privately. Hosein told Newsday during visiting hours he enquired about transferring Mathura to the Port- of-Spain General Hospital for treatment.

“A doctor said Mt Hope does not do that. Port-of-Spain will not accept her, once they know she is coming from Mt Hope”.

If Mathura wanted to be treated at PoS she will have to discharge herself and the family will have to transport her in their vehicle to the Accident and Emergency Ward.

Hosein was told that Narace would have to intervene for Mathura to be transferred to get surgery at a private facility at cost to the State. In the meantime, she is waiting in the Adult Accident and Emergency at EWMSC for a bed to become available on a ward.

Efforts to reach Health Minister Jerry Narace for comment yesterday proved futile.