UPDATE: ER sickout protest continues with roughly 10 nurses, auxiliary staff
Sickout continues
Our sources within the medical facility said plans are underway to have the myriad of concerns affecting staff hashed out in a meeting with the top brass of the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) soon.
“It still continues,” one of our sources informed.
There are 15 permanent nurses, some of whom are on vacation, four Cuban nurses, and eight auxiliary staff attached to ER, our newsroom was informed.
Roughly 10 nurses and auxiliary staff have taken strike action, our newsroom was also told.
According to our sources, due to the sickout by nearly all the nurses at the Emergency Room, nurses have been drawn from other departments to fill the void.
Reports of sickout ‘not confirmed’- Hon Malone
Health Minister Hon Carvin Malone (AL) said late Sunday, February 6, 2022, that “the reports of nurses sickout were reviewed but were not confirmed by the senior management or by the BVIHSA’s Board.”
In a statement, Hon Malone said all operational and administrative issues being reported by media outlets, inclusive of ongoing audits, payroll issues and staff actions, will be addressed by the Board of Directors early this week.
“I urge the public not to leapfrog to any conclusions, at this time, but rather to wait on the report of facts from credible sources. It is my resolve to disclose all facts as reported to me in a timely and complete manner,” Hon Malone stated.
See previous article published February 6, 2022
ER nurses staging sickout @ Dr D. Orlando Smith Hospital
Nurses of the Emergency Room of Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital have reportedly staged a sickout protest against working conditions at the medical facility.
The sickout commenced on Friday, February 4, 2022, about midday and continues, Virgin Islands News Online was informed by the nurses of the hospital today, February 6, 2022.
More staff needed
According to one nurse, there are several reasons for the sick out. This includes the need for more staff to man the busy department which deals with emergencies of all kinds, as well as better working conditions.
One nurse who preferred to remain anonymous said, “The expected outcome [of the ongoing sickout] is to find more staff!”
Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Carvin Malone (AL) recently acknowledged the need for more medical staff at BVIHSA.
Nurses feel robbed!
The hospital staff also pointed out that another major trigger behind their decision to go on a sick out is linked to the allegations surrounding the now-suspended CEO of the BVIHSA Mrs Cedorene P. Malone-Smith and the Acting Human Resources Manager Mr Levor Lettsome, based on the “Preliminary Audit Report on the BVIHSA payroll” and the “gross misconduct and fraud” that allegedly occurred under their watch.
“They stopped the increment, they stopped the uniform allowance, you don’t get paid properly. So this is what all the staff is angry about. The nurses and orderlies and med-techs, none of us got a raise and who is doing the work?” the nurse pointed out.
Up to the time of publication, Hon Malone did not respond to our request for comment on the alleged sickout by nurses.
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79 Responses to “UPDATE: ER sickout protest continues with roughly 10 nurses, auxiliary staff”
I am with you all 100%
DDOS IS AN UNSAFE WORKING AND HEALTH ENVIRONMENT
P******been there causing havoc for well over 10 years. Needs to be criminally charged. Where is the $12m that was given to build the covid ward?
not just them that had need to go, the devil in the morgue too
1. Do you thinks it’s fair to receive the same salary for nearly ten years now? Increments have not been paid since 2009 for some staff members.
2. Do you thinks it’s fair to have to purchase items to perform the job you were hired to do? Ask the staff in dietary, maintenance and some administrative staff. Some time we use our own money so the job can be done and make patient as comfortable as we could.
3. For the staff that wears uniforms, is it fair they have to purchase new ones every year without a refund? Some supervisor have the nerve to send you home when not in uniform as if the give you any.
4. Do you thinks it fair to hold meetings every three months promising a raise and not fulfilling it. Every time they call a staff meeting they always working on a raise and asking staff to give them some time. Well we have been thru two hurricane, a purchase of a new software(meditech that barely works for some on a good day) and now this pandemic.
I’m sure if some of you had to endure half of what we’ve be thru, you will be singing a different tune. Sad part about this is the former minister of health give them money twice to pay this.
That place need a serious overhauling. Don’t be surprise if others join them.
But do you really think this is the best way to address to the detriment of innocent sick persons.
You may have valid concerns but a sick out - really?
At the end of the day as an employee there are many ways to address grievances and if you have exhausted all those avenues then you have a decision to make but sick out while you are still an employee is not the way. You all were badly advised.
THAT IS WHY THE SICK OUT IS CREATE BECAUSE THEY HAVE EXHAUSTED ALL OTHER RESOURCES AND NOBODY LISTENING. ALL WHO TOOK THE MONEY FOR THEMSELVES AND FRIENDS BY CREATING JOBS AND GIVING UNJUSTIFIED RAISED, LET THEM PAY IT BACK
Might need a new tourism slogan!?
May be some of the nurses in ER will need attention and no one will be there.
IF you know Jesus follow him the tunnel will come out into light do not be discourage.
One the biggest reasons the nurses and other staff are disgruntle and leaving cause there nothing at the end for them so Mr Minster and the Board of directors please look at this 1% and see if you can work to receive this at the end of your time in these positions.
Yes ppl we call in sick and they had to take nurse from all over in the hospital. Stop lie to the ppl the hold hospital need to sick out so we goin see wa goin happen go and clean you all cockroach and a hospital we or sick off the low pay now
DRINK WATER AND DRAIN THE SWAMP , THIS W**** DRAIN THAT HOSPITAL MEHSON , she dry the swamp and the staff falling down , GOD , GOD will fixed her proper , THAT MONEY MUST BE ALL DONE ALREADY ,