Hundreds of patients affected by staff protest action at western hospitals

 

The Union of Technical, Administrative and Supervisory Personnel (UTASP) says medical technicians and other staff at Cornwall Regional Hospital in St. James and Savanna-la-Mar Hospital in Westmoreland will continue their protest action if the Ministry of Health refuses to address longstanding concerns over their welfare and working conditions. 

 

The group of protesters include medical technologists, laboratory technical assistants and lab attendants at Cornwall Regional Hospital along with medical technologists, health records, clerks and technicians at Savanna-la-Mar Hospital. 

 

They protested Monday morning causing major disruptions to health services. 

 

UTASP President St. Patrice Ennis told Radio Jamaica News that the union had written repeatedly to the management of the hospitals, dating back to July and August 2023, regarding several unresolved issues. 

 

These include the non-payment of acting allowances, failure to implement agreed uniform and laundry allowances, delays in confirming permanent appointments, a lack of provision of lab coats for new staff and the non-implementation of the agreed supper allowance for work between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. 

 

Mr. Ennis said hundreds of patients were affected by Monday's protest action.

 

"At Cornwall Regional Hospital, approximately 300 patients had to be turned back as the workers were not on the job, and I don't know the numbers at other insititutions, but we know what the medical technologists do and they are not providing those services at the moment," he said, adding that the hospitals would have to determine how best to mitigate the effects of the protest. 

 

Mr. Ennis, who was in western Jamaica on Monday, disclosed that the concerns of the medical technologists have also been raised during official meetings and documented and follow-up communications with the Western Regional Health Authority, but without success.