Nurses protest working conditions at Cornwall Regional Hospital

 

 

Frustrated with the conditions of work at Cornwall Regional Hospital in St. James, a group of nurses picketed the facility this morning to call for improvements from the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

 

Dressed in their white uniforms, with placards in hand, the small group chanted, "No change, no work!", "No more empty promises!", "Better working conditions!" and "Fifty patients to one blood pressure machine!" as they indicated the issues that have caused them to be away from their work stations. 

 

They argue that the staff, particularly in the Accident and Emergency Department, are working in inhumane and unhealthy conditions.

 

Nurses Association of Jamaica representative for St. James, Lattare Barker, said the situation has left nurses distraught. 

 

"First of all, there is overcrowding. There are currently over 100 patients in the area and it's supposed to hold maybe about 35. Yes. And my nurses have to code patients, that is provide resuscitative care, on the floor. That is inhumane. And at this time, the nurses just cannot take anymore. We even have some rodent infestation. They have communicated before and we still haven't gotten a response. So this morning, we need to take some action and we are doing it today," declared Nurse Barker, who spoke with members of the media. 

 

She acknowledged that other nurses were manning the A&E department during the protest, "because patients' care comes first,

but said the protesting nurses "still have to take the necessary measures to get these issues addressed". 

 

The nurses were subsequently called into a meeting with the hospital's Chief Executive Officer.

 

The outcome is not yet known.

 

Meanwhile, Health and Wellness Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton said there are a myriad of issues which have resulted in the unfavourable conditions at Cornwall Regional Hospital.

 

Dr. Tufton said Accident and Emergency departments in parishes affected by Hurricane Melissa are experiencing space constraints. This, coupled with the influx of viral and respiratory illness cases, has placed a greater demand on services.

 

"The typical flu season is increasing the numbers who are demanding service or need service. And A&E represents the first point of stop. And that applies to a few of the hospitals, you know, Mandeville, the urban centres, you know, Bustamante and a couple others. And then now in the zone of the Hurricane Melissa, where there is active reconstruction or renovation, it's creating inconveniences in terms of bed space. So Cornwall, for example, has a ward that is being renovated or put back in operation, which I'm told should be the case by next week. And so it is creating some of the backlog," he sought to explain. 

 

He said there should be some relief for staff and patients at Cornwall Regional by next week.