Nurses to meet with officials from Health Ministry

Union officials are hopeful there will be a resolution to outstanding issues after a meeting with nurses and officials from the Ministry of Health later today.

Trade unionist Caswell Franklyn made that point on Monday after he and representatives of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) met with nurses at the Winston Scott Polyclinic.

There were reports earlier that nurses were off the job again. This follows a walkout at the Winston Scott and Eunice Gibson Polyclinics and the Geriatric Hospital on Friday, as nurses called for hazard pay and a meeting with the Government.

When a Nation team visited Winston Scott today, there were no signs of a protest, but Franklyn and NUPW officials were seen exiting the facility.

Franklyn briefly said he did not want to prejudice the discussion today, but was hopeful the issues could be resolved.

A nurse who spoke to the Nation said their grievances are more than just hazard pay. The primary care giver said the polyclinics were still short of staff, and because of the COVID-19 pandemic, some nurses at the Grantley Adams International Airport worked for 15 days straight.

Although some foreign nurses were integrated into acute care facilities at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, some polyclinic nurses said they did not offer a relief.

The meeting today is scheduled for 2 p.m. (TG)