THE implementation of a “one nurse for six patients” ratio at healthcare facilities formed the second phase of action meant to trigger Government action towards settling outstanding wage negotiations.
So said Trinidad and Tobago National Nursing Association president Idi Stuart in an interview on i95.5 FM, where he stated that the significance of the action which began yesterday, is that it coincided with the Government’s first year in office.
He recalled that the first phase included a recent mass protest through the streets of Port of Spain, in which TTNNA’s membership and other healthcare workers turned out in their thousands.
Stuart noted that while he has been approached regarding another mass protest, he said it will mark phase three of protest action only if the second phase fails.
He warned that until the Government meets with the association and treats with its issues, it will continue with its actions.
He explained that, at the TTNNA’s special meeting, its executive would have made three decisions following the Government’s refusal to meet.
“One was that, effective today, we are going to implement total patient care, total nursing care in our nation’s hospital. That has commenced today, April 28. It’s our gift to our Minister of Health,” he said.
He continued, “We are going to ensure that all nursing and midwifery personnel are delivering quality nursing care. Care that is patient-centred, efficient, effective, care that is safe above all.”
He emphasised that the only way that could be achieved is that members are to operate within their job specifications and in keeping with international practice.
“If we continue to extend ourselves beyond that, as we have been doing in the past, then the patients will suffer. Because we don’t want our beloved patients to suffer any more. The patients are now going to be receiving top-quality care,” he assured.
Speaking of yesterday’s actions, he said that would continue in the next few days, making nurses winding down from overextending themselves. Stuart added that nurses have been overextending themselves to their detriment adding,
“The patients did not appreciate it. The politicians certainly have not appreciated it and our health has suffered,” he said.
He continued: “You have situations where the chairman of the NCRHA (North Central Regional Health Authority) boasting about how much money they are saving because they cut down on pull (overtime) and all these different things, not realising there is absolutely no way NCRHA institutions can operate. They can’t even operate unless they have pull.”
Nurses at the NCRHA medical facilities have been engaging in protests over issues including a freeze on payments for completed pool duties, pending an audit into what has been described as an “overtime racket” by NCRHA chairman Dr Tim Gopeesingh (a claim which the TTNNA denies), nurses remaining on 2013 salary scales, persistent staff shortages, and hospital conditions.
Attempts to contact Health Minister Lackram Bodoe and NCRHA chairman Dr Tim Gopeesingh yesterday, about the reported one nurse for six patients’ ratio were unsuccessful.
