Senior Reporter
Allegations of gang affiliation, intimidation, extortion and threats have prompted a major shake-up at the North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA).
In a statement issued yesterday, the NCRHA said an internal review uncovered reports of bullying and alleged gang activity within its Patient Escort and Hospital Attendant Services, which employs more than 400 people.
“The North Central Regional Health Authority has moved decisively to reform its Patient Escort and Hospital Attendant Services after inheriting an unacceptable breakdown in recruitment standards, accountability, discipline and management oversight under the previous administration,” the release stated.
The authority added: “The NCRHA is unequivocal: there is no place within the public healthcare system for gangsterism, intimidation, bullying, extortion or behaviour that threatens employees, compromises patients or interferes with the delivery of healthcare.”
According to the NCRHA, the issues were inherited from the previous People’s National Movement (PNM) administration.
“Serious allegations are being investigated in accordance with established procedures and, where wrongdoing is established, decisive action will be taken. The current administration inherited these problems; it did not create them. It will not allow them to continue,” the authority said.
Among the concerns identified were daily absenteeism rates reportedly ranging from 30 to 50 per cent, chronic lateness, employees leaving shifts early and failure to follow instructions.
The review also found instances in which workers allegedly refused to transport patients. The NCRHA said these practices contributed to delays in moving patients between wards, diagnostic services and other clinical areas, and in some cases affected ambulance operations.
“The consequences were felt directly by patients. Refusal or excessive delays in transporting patients affected movement between wards, diagnostic services and other clinical areas and contributed, in some instances, to delays in ambulance operations,” the release stated.
It noted that the problems persisted despite the provision of additional wheelchairs, ambulances and other resources, issues that had previously been cited as reasons for delays.
The review also raised concerns about recruitment practices. The NCRHA claimed that a significant number of employees were hired without meeting the required qualifications for their positions and without submitting police certificates of good character.
Among 69 employees reviewed, only five had submitted police certificates of good character, the authority said.
“The current chairman, board of directors, chief executive officer and executive management have moved swiftly to restore discipline, accountability and professionalism through strengthened supervision, continuous training, proper rostering, closer monitoring of attendance and greater management oversight,” the NCRHA stated.
It added that several disciplinary matters are under investigation and appropriate action is being pursued in accordance with established procedures.
However, T&T National Nursing Association (TTNNA) president Idi Stuart said the issues are not new.He said nurses and midwives have long felt the effects when patient escorts and hospital attendants are unavailable for duty.
“Following general elections, political parties often go through communities, meet people, promise them jobs in agencies such as WASA and the RHAs, and then, upon taking office, directives are sent to fit them into positions. It is then left to management to determine whether those persons are suited to perform the tasks required.”
He said the shortage of escorts and attendants frequently places added pressure on nursing staff.
“This directly affects nursing and midwifery personnel because when an escort or attendant is unavailable, the nurse is required to take up that slack. These are difficulties members of the public may not see on a daily basis, as nurses often step in to ensure patients are not negatively affected,” Stuart said.
Stuart also questioned if efforts by the management to address questionable hiring practices could withstand political interference.
“We would definitely want to see how the NCRHA handles this, because if management attempts to deal with it, you could end up with a minister making a call on the chairman,” he said.
He further raised concerns about how disciplinary matters involving patient escorts and attendants would be managed, given their union representation.
Attempts to contact NCRHA chairman Dr Tim Gopeesingh for comment were unsuccessful up to press time.
