MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Penguin News Update.

Headlines:
Hospital review to follow inquest; Darwin memorial: no contract signed yet; Montevideo air link?; Cruise ships Calling.

Kids take on Mt Tumbledown

MORE than one hundred and fifty Community School children participated in the annual Tumbledown Run on Wednesday. First boy across the finish line was Saul Zuvic Bulic, followed by Stefan Clarke and Matthew Nethercott. The first three girls were Tiphanie May, Emily Hancox and Nadia Smith. More photographs next week.

Hospital review to follow inquest

HOSPITAL managers have promised to review admission to Casualty procedures following the inquest into the death of a patient. Staff and procedures at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital were criticised by the Coroner, Mr Nick Sanders, during the inquest into the death of Mr Arthur Gould. (A full report from the inquest is on page 2.) Mr Gould was admitted to hospital on September 8 after he fell near his home and was knocked unconscious. He had visited a number of public houses during the evening. His estimated blood alcohol content at the time of his death was approximately 340ug/100ml (for illustration, the legal limit for driving is 80ug/100ml.) The on-call doctor was contacted upon Mr Gould's arrival in hospital. He instructed the nurse to admit Mr Gould to hospital and that hourly neurological observations should be conducted throughout the night. The doctor did not attend the hospital. Mr Gould died the following day in hospital. In his report Mr Sanders recommended a, "....a full and immediate review of admission procedures." A spokesperson from the hospital said Mr Gould was admitted, "...on the information available to the clinical team at the time; there is no evidence that an examination by a doctor would have been appropriate at that stage. "The Coroner's findings suggest that even if an examination of Mr Gould had taken place, there would have been no change to the tragic outcome of his accident. "Nonetheless, the Coroner's comments do present us with an opportunity to review our admission procedures through Casualty and we will do this with our Specialist Adviser." Mr Gould's medical notes were not consulted on the evening of his admission to hospital and the Coroner recommended an independently audited review should take place, "...to ensure that all records are in the same format, complete, and readily available at all times." Mr Gould's notes would have shown he was taking the blood thinning drug Warfarin, which would increase the risk of internal bleeding. According to the hospital spokesperson, in relation to the availability of patient records in KEMH, "...both medical and computer records are available to, and easily accessible by, clinical staff if appropriate. "This is the case both in and outside normal working hours. "Since 1997, all significant current clinical information, including medication, has been recorded on computer, protected against improper use." Mr Sanders also recommended all ward staff should be regularly briefed and trained on the need for accurate neurological testing when required and instructed by the doctor, however the hospital spokesperson said this already happens. "The regular update training of nursing staff includes reference to neurological testing as well as other important clinical issues and this will continue." The hospital spokesperson extended the, "...sincere sympathy and condolences," of all staff to Mr Gould's family.

Darwin memorial: no contract signed yet

CONSTRUCTION Company AWG says no official contract has yet been signed for the assembly of the Argentine memorial at Darwin. Argentine daily newspaper La Nación earlier this week reported that 70% of the reinforced concrete blocks for the memorial due to be transported and assembled in Darwin have been finished and will begin to be shipped to the Falklands at the end of this month. However AWG (Falklands) Regional Manager Ken McKenzie yesterday said, "We have still not signed a contract with regards to the work we'll do at this end - but we are getting close to concluding it and signing" Mr McKenzie said it is unlikely the pre-cast units, which he believes are currently being manufactured in Argentina, will arrive in the Islands this year, however, "...there is no reason for it not to happen early next year."

Montevideo air link?

A NUMBER of Falklands businesses received an e-mail this week from a mystery company proposing a new air link to the Islands. The company, identified only by a hotmail e-mail address, proposes a once weekly ?South Atlantic Ocean Route' from Montevideo in Uruguay to the Falkland Islands aboard a PLUNA aircraft. The open e-mail states that an application to operate the flights was filed to the Uruguayan Civil Aviation Authority in August, "...and so far no objections have arised (sic)." Director of Civil Aviation in the Falklands, Andrew Newman, confirmed yesterday that he had received no application for such an air link.

Cruise ships Calling

NORWEGIAN CROWN calls into Stanley today. On Saturday Andrea will be in Stanley and Endeavour will be at New Island and Carcass Island. She will sail to Stanley on Sunday. On Sunday Andrea will head to West Point and New Island North. On Monday the Endeavour will call at Steeple Jason and on Tuesday it will head to West Point and Carcass. Clipper Adventurer will be at West Point and New Island on Tuesday and then Stanley on Wednesday, along with the Amsterdam. Orion will call in to Stanley on Thursday.