00:00According to the TTNNA, the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mount Hope Women's Hospital and Quora Hospitals are among several
00:09institutions under the NCRHA, near to shut down over this long weekend.
00:15And the association has recommended citizens to seek alternative forms of health care, those persons who reside within the catchment
00:28area of North Central Regional Health Authority, because we really would not want persons to suffer as a result of
00:40the actions of management.
00:41So if you can, if you can go to private, if you can go to other health care institutions in
00:48neighboring communities, then we urge you to do so.
00:52In a post to social media on Saturday, they said they empathize with patients and families who are forced to
01:00endure drastic reduction in care and any loss of life that will happen as management continues in their downward spiral
01:08of alienating workers.
01:09But it's said if pool is cut, the RHA services automatically stop.
01:15Pool is a system of having a group of volunteer nurses from which shortages can be covered.
01:21But recently, he says, the $75 rate they received was cut to $60, something Stuart calls unacceptable and called for
01:31the firing of NCRHA Chairman Dr. Tim Gopi Singh.
01:34NCRHA is severely short-staffed and it is heavily dependent on nursing personnel working that extra duty to ensure services
01:48are delivered within NCRHA.
01:51So once that was interfered with, it has caused such a ripple effect.
01:55It appears the only resolution going forward, seeing that the chairman is fixed in his position, is for the Honorable
02:08Prime Minister to have him removed as a member of the NCRHA.
02:14But in response, the RHA says it has taken note of the nurses' concerns and promised to deal with them
02:22in accordance with the law.
02:24The authority says they were recently made aware of a 2023 CPO-approved pool rate of $60 and the fact
02:32that the NCRHA had been paying $75 in contravention of the CPO's directive.
02:39The NCRHA CEO indicated that corrective action was taken to revert to authorised CPO rates, in keeping with established policy
02:50and legal requirements, adding that the NCRHA was the only RHA not adhering to the approved structure.
02:57The statement says it is essential the authority ensures full alignment and compliance to avoid exposure to legal and governance
03:07risks, including the potential for the board to be taken before the courts.
03:12The NCRHA says it recognises the impact that these adjustments may have as nurses may not receive what they would
03:21ordinarily expect monthly, given the role overtime plays in their overall earnings.
03:27However, it says actions taken are not intended to disadvantage nurses, but to ensure that systems are managed in a
03:36manner that is fair, consistent and compliant with national guidelines.
03:41Cindy Raghuba, Chika Singh, TV6 News.
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