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Peebles Hospital accused of slothful hiring process

- BVIHSA CEO Dr Ronald E. Georges says not the case
The Government-owned Peebles Hospital has been accused of having a slothful hiring process. Photo: VINO/File
In a Tuesday, October 22, 2019, post in the BVI Community Board facebook group, Ms Jessica Penn accused the institution of taking 5 months to process an application, that is, after the job of Medical Assistant was confirmed to her earlier in the year. Photo: Facebook
In a Tuesday, October 22, 2019, post in the BVI Community Board facebook group, Ms Jessica Penn accused the institution of taking 5 months to process an application, that is, after the job of Medical Assistant was confirmed to her earlier in the year. Photo: Facebook
 CEO of the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA), Dr Ronald E. Georges. Photo: GIS/File
CEO of the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA), Dr Ronald E. Georges. Photo: GIS/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - The nation's premier public hospital facility, the Peebles Hospital has been accused of having a slothful hiring process by an alleged prospect employee, Jessica Penn, who took to social media to lambast the institution for never calling her back after indicating that she was hired.

In a Tuesday, October 22, 2019, post in the BVI Community Board facebook group, Ms Penn accused the institution of taking 5 months to process an application, that is, after the job of Medical Assistant was confirmed to her earlier in the year. 

Peebles Hospital under fire 

"The Human resources at Peebles suck... why on earth does it take you all so long to process an application?" the post that has since gained some attention said.

She continued, "I have never seen anything like this. Stuff that can be processed in no more than one month, it takes you guys about 4 months. My God. Thank God I found another job or me and my two children would have starved," the irate woman lashed out. 

When Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) reached out to CEO of the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA), Dr Ronald E. Georges for a comment, he indicated that he was aware of the post, however, wondered about the authenticity of the user making the post.

"I did see it, but wondered about its authenticity as she has in her profile that she works at Jet Blue and is from Pennsylvania," he told VINO.

Authenticity questioned  

According to Dr Georges, in his investigation of the individual's Facebook profile, she was neither from the Virgin Islands nor appears to be from the territory, in assuming that the post may have been fake. 

Checks later with HR of the Peebles Hospital confirmed that no record of the individual was found, "HR folks don't know who she is," Dr Georges told VINO.

VINO has since reached out to Ms Penn for more information, however, no responses were received up to publication time. Penn in her original post said she gave up on the job and eventually moved on since she had no choice. 

27 Responses to “Peebles Hospital accused of slothful hiring process”

  • ha (24/10/2019, 17:22) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply
    I bet they won’t hire her now!
    • read the article (24/10/2019, 19:43) Like (7) Dislike (3) Reply
      No such person exists. Could be sour grapes after being rejected .
  • Wrong Address (24/10/2019, 17:38) Like (8) Dislike (18) Reply
    Maybe you should address the CV to Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital. It was renamed and is no longer Peebles Hospital.

    WHEREAS a Committee established to identify, consider and make recommendations for the re-naming of “Peebles Hospital” recommended that “Peebles Hospital” be re-named in honour of DR. THE HONOURABLE D. ORLANDO SMITH, OBE, in recognition of his pioneering efforts to improve healthcare for the residents of the Virgin Islands.
    WHEREAS DR. THE HONOURABLE D. ORLANDO SMITH, OBE has served in several capacities at “Peebles Hospital” over many years, including the following: Medical Officer (1970-1971), Senior Registrar of Surgery (1975-1976), Surgeon (1995-1999), and Chief Medical Officer (1979-1995).
    WHEREAS DR. THE HONOURABLE D. ORLANDO SMITH, OBE, together with his colleagues, found ingenious ways to deliver healthcare services to the people of the Territory despite the resource limitations.

    WHEREAS DR. THE HONOURABLE D. ORLANDO SMITH, OBE a) continues to serve as a physician in a private practice manly through “PicSmith Medical Services” which was established in 1992, b) was named in the Queen's New Year's Honours List and was awarded an Order of British Empire (OBE) for his years of outstanding and dedicated service to the BVI community, and c) is known and well respected within the healthcare field and the entire Virgin Islands, and currently serves as Premier of the Virgin Islands.

    AND WHEREAS Cabinet, in accepting the recommendation of the said Committee, decided that a) “Peebles Hospital” be re-named “Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital” in recognition the pioneering efforts of DR. THE HONOURABLE D. ORLANDO SMITH, OBE to improve healthcare for the residents of the Virgin Islands and that b) a Draft Resolution concerning the said re-naming of “Peebles Hospital” be introduced by way of a motion for approval by Members of the House of Assembly.

    NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands approves the re-naming of “Peebles Hospital” to “Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital” and that “Peebles Hospital” be henceforth known as “Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital”
    • Odessa (24/10/2019, 19:39) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      Thank You.
    • Hrmph (25/10/2019, 01:04) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
      Your post is encapsulated by the first paragraph. The remainder of the post is entirely superfluous. Why did you bother?
      • wize up (23/07/2020, 14:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        @ wrong address
        Who the hell ask you for history? What a lot of energy you have! Go read a book please
  • okay (24/10/2019, 17:48) Like (25) Dislike (3) Reply
    In other news, I applied in person and got no reply, NONE WHATSOEVER. Common courtesy calls to say you acknowledge or gave an update of a post that you applied for would be nice; if you didnt get a post its crickets.
  • trrefdrfds (24/10/2019, 17:57) Like (19) Dislike (0) Reply
    It is the truth, same thing happened to some one I know. They made them do all the necessary test after the hiring process and never called them back for the start date.
  • Oh yeah (24/10/2019, 18:14) Like (7) Dislike (10) Reply
    Ayo like too much drama
  • tola (24/10/2019, 20:55) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    That's them for true
  • tola (24/10/2019, 20:57) Like (18) Dislike (1) Reply
    That hr woman in bvihsa is one lying thing she need to move from that post.
  • Local staff (24/10/2019, 22:04) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    I believe the post the hospital is a royal mess trust we
  • Shorty (24/10/2019, 23:10) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    Funny enough just this week someone visited said hospital to inquire on their application that was submitted months ago only for the staff to LIE and claim they never got it. Thank God there are still honest and responsible people working there who personally passed the documents to HR once handed in and had evidence of the email correspondence sent to HR internally. Then and ONLY Then the individual disclosed after 4 months she just passed the application to HR that morning. First they said no application was sent but when confronted by the staff member with the correspondence they sent they changed their story. Dr. Georges investigating on fb to see if the person resides in the BVI is not always accurate when some persons don't put their real names, real address or even update their profile if relocating. The reality is BVIHSA HR department has been doing exactly what the young lady said to locals who applied. When they haven't lost your application, they claim you never send it and when you follow up they basically tell you nothing has happened don't call so much they will call you if anything changes. Or the FAMOUS LINE 'i don't know what to tell you' and hang up the phone.
    • Jaigon (25/10/2019, 16:18) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Shorty, no lie. I had a similar experience. Sent in an application for my daughter to do some community service to gather her hours for graduation, well my daughter went to other agencies, did her hours, graduated from high school, now in college and up to now not a beep from BVIHSA. Welcome to the real world.
  • Yep (25/10/2019, 08:05) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    This has been.going on for years now. Although a local is least likely to get the job they do this to both locals and expats. It's who you know, or whose family you know and who you like. Some form of discrimination. I wonder if they were treated this way how would they have gotten where they are today?
  • Lost Documents (25/10/2019, 08:20) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply

    It is easy for anyone in HR to claim that no documents on individuals exist. This is not the first or last time these things happen. I know for a fact that many persons have applied to positions for the hospital and are still waiting for responses more than 6 months to a year later. Gov HR employees suck, quote me on that.

    I am talking about alll HR persons. they do not know how to do thier jobs unless it comes to losing documents.

    • Binocs (26/10/2019, 18:58) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      Totally agree with you, these HR departments need professional training all over. I to applied for a position and to date keep calling and getting run around responses, up to yet they can’t call, email nothing to say they acknowledge your application. People have to turn in so much documents just to hear reapply, that’s going again pay for a new police record and such. It really is a shame to see what our country have come to.
  • I'm in (25/10/2019, 08:48) Like (8) Dislike (3) Reply
    I work there and that is the worse HR department I have ever seen.
  • facts (25/10/2019, 09:00) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    But it's TRUE though it takes along time
  • Oh yeah (25/10/2019, 09:06) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    The same thing going on at the Electricity Corporation.
  • humm (25/10/2019, 09:30) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Labour dept doing the same thing
  • Hmm (25/10/2019, 14:16) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Whoever she was - and whoever want to say thing bout her fake profile and so that is their business. but the fact is that the hospital's hr sucks - and sucks really bad. one has to provide a whole list of documents along with an application and yet you never receive an acknowledgement of receipt even from them. If you call to ask to tell you to reapply. And again you never hear from them. Lack of professionals there i believe. There should be some reshuffling in that place. Complacency breeds inefficiency.
  • Quiet Rebel (26/10/2019, 10:53) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    Is it Peebles Hospital (formerly Cottage Hospital) or Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital? Was not the hospital renamed Dr. D. Orlando Smith just before the 02/25/19 general election? Dr. Georges, why has the signage on the hospital has been change as yet? Is not this a simple task? Is there a reason(s) why it has not been change?
    • Sunny (28/10/2019, 13:49) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      This question should be directed to the the government, they were the ones who made the recommendation not the hospital.
  • Kim (30/03/2020, 19:37) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    this is the worse HR Department indeed, I applied, got a response, sent all the necessary documents and after that not a single word. These people are crazy
  • watch (18/07/2021, 14:29) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Just typical BVI service .... No surprise


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