The Ministry of Health has confirmed the reassignment of six nurses from the Geriatric Hospital to district facilities in St Lucy and St Philip, but insists the move was not punitive.
Permanent Secretary Wayne Marshall on Thursday rejected claims of victimisation, saying the decision was driven by urgent staffing needs and a commitment to maintaining safe, high-quality care across the public health system.
Marshall was responding to concerns raised in letters from two trade unions, which suggested the transfers were linked to nurses’ complaints about patient allocation during a recent scabies outbreak at the Geriatric Hospital. He maintained that the reassignments were solely intended to address acute shortages at the district hospitals, and pointed out that staff had previously been redeployed in the opposite direction to support the Geriatric Hospital during similar circumstances.
The ministry remains focused on balancing resources across facilities, Marshall said, adding that the affected nurses were notified both verbally and in writing at least two weeks prior to the effective date.
He also addressed union concerns about the handling of the outbreak, stating that all actions taken, including patient relocations, were guided by medical and infection control professionals.
“Measures such as patient relocations were carried out to facilitate proper isolation, treatment, and sanitisation, ensuring the safety of both patients and staff,” he said.
Marshall further asserted that there was no serious threat to health or safety as a result of the ministry’s decisions.
Acknowledging an administrative oversight, the permanent secretary confirmed that incorrect legislation had been cited in letters issued to the nurses, but assured that corrected correspondence would be provided.
He emphasised that the reassignments were within his authority and did not infringe on the rights of any officer.
The ministry has already met with senior union officials and plans to convene an additional meeting in response to the most recent correspondence. Written responses will also be issued to formally outline its position.
The National Union of Public Workers, had flagged growing unrest at the Geriatric Hospital, with Acting General Secretary Wayne Walrond saying nurses were surprised by the timing and lack of formal documentation, and believed they were being penalised for raising concerns about the outbreak’s management. (EJ)
The post ‘Not punishment’: Ministry explains nurse reassignments appeared first on Barbados Today.
