11-y-o scoliosis patient to get spinal surgery at UHWI

Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton says arrangements have been made with the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) for 11-year-old Ajanae Parchment to undergo spinal surgery.

Parchment was diagnosed with scoliosis last August with a spinal curve of 25 degrees but it has since severely grown to 85 degrees.

Tufton gave the update at a press conference Thursday morning at the Bustamante Hospital for Children (BHC).

He said having become aware of the child's situation on Wednesday, he consulted with various stakeholders in the health sector to address the matter.

He said UHWI has since consented to facilitate the surgery based on discussions with the lead clinician Dr Carl Bruce.

He said the hospital will provide an operating theatre, along with all the necessary equipment and supporting staff.

“So if the team that is here, the visiting team that is leaving tomorrow, can facilitate the particular case then the patient will be facilitated for the surgery to take place,” said Tufton.

He said if the team cannot perform the surgery, another arrangement will have to be made.

Earlier today Parchment's mother, Sandra Aitcheson, said she is being gradually disabled by the “aggressive” form of scoliosis and that the surgery to correct the issue has been postponed because of an under-resourced operating theatre at BHC.

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