00:00A letter allegedly issued by the North Central Regional Health Authority on May 7th, just over a week after the general election, mandated that all recruitment for permanent, temporary and contract positions be halted immediately.
00:14It claimed that the decision was made on advice from the Ministry of Health, while President of the TNT Registered Nurses Association Edie Stewart tells us that an alarm was raised.
00:25The TNT would have been contacted by a number of persons over the last couple of days, indicating their concern that either their contracts weren't renewed or they have been told it may not be renewed or their hiring has been freezed following the national elections.
00:52Stewart says there is already a shortage of nurses in the system, and so the association is concerned.
00:59However, he notes that the boards of the various RHAs have been dismantled, as is customary, following a change of government.
01:06He further claims that it has left a void in the managerial processes.
01:10However, the Ministry of Health says it is unaware of any policy directives issued by any of the RHAs to freeze hiring or arbitrarily terminate staff contracts.
01:38In a media release dated June 10th, the Ministry indicates that in the absence of the boards, the chief executive officers with oversight from the Ministry continue to manage matters pertaining to human resources in a responsible manner.
01:53The Ministry says, quote,
01:54The Ministry calls it important, revealing that the RHAs have made a collective request for an additional $400 million in the upcoming media budget review.
02:15The Health Ministry further states that it has maintained ongoing communication with the RHAs to ensure operational continuity, including where it concerns new hirings and contract renewals pending the appointment of the RHA boards.
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