Health Minister puzzled over reported nurses ‘strike’ action
Minister Vincent Wheatley
Health Minister Vincent Wheatley has expressed concern and uncertainty over what some have described as strike action by staff at the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA), saying the matter has caught officials by surprise and remains under investigation.
In an interview on Thursday, Wheatley said he first learned of the situation while attending a sitting of the House of Assembly and had not yet received confirmation of what had occurred at several clinics across the territory.
“It was brought to my attention earlier today. As you know, we are in a House so I haven’t been really in and out like that,” Wheatley said.
The minister explained that the situation emerged during an important accreditation review involving the territory’s main hospital and its associated facilities.
“The Dr D Orlando Smith Hospital is the only accredited medical facility in the British Virgin Islands. As such, we go through regular examinations by external persons,” Wheatley said.
He noted that the accreditation team had been visiting several health facilities during the week when reports surfaced that nurses were absent from some clinics.
“From what I was told when they went to the Road Town Clinic yesterday, the nurses were on no show. Somebody later said to me that they heard they were all out sick. I haven’t gotten verification of that as yet,” Wheatley stated.
According to Wheatley, similar situations were reported when the accreditation team visited clinics in Long Look, Capoons Bay and Jost Van Dyke.
The minister said he immediately contacted the acting Chief Executive Officer of the BVIHSA but was informed that no written notice or formal demands had been submitted by staff.
“She said, yes, she was informed, but she has received nothing in writing about it, no special demands or anything, just that persons are absent,” Wheatley said.
Officials are now attempting to determine whether the absences represent coordinated industrial action. “Some persons call it a strike, some call it a sick out. We have no confirmation that that is indeed the case,” Wheatley said.
Investigation underway
The health minister said an investigation is underway and a meeting has been scheduled to determine why staff members failed to report for duty.
“I know there’s a meeting planned, I think, for tomorrow to find out what is really going on and why persons didn’t show up to work today,” he explained.
Wheatley said he remains deeply concerned about the possible impact on public access to healthcare services.
“Or people must have a right to healthcare. You can’t have clinics closed and persons needing to go to the clinic. They don’t have access to clinical services,” Wheatley said.
He added that he is prepared to meet with staff members if concerns are raised.
“I’m available to meet with them anytime once they call and say, listen, let’s have a meeting,” Wheatley said.
The situation remains fluid as health authorities continue to investigate the reported absences.
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almost as bad as the last health minister…..but hey at least the politicians and their families done use local health care. NHI and poor public health care for the public while they are entitled to private care and have funds to fly out for it…………..
Ironic his daughter went school and come back and have job waiting for right on his home island while others who long finish school applying and cant get job
Persons who finished school locally long ago and you are not getting a job? I thought the expats say, “The locals who wants to work are working.” Maybe, just maybe persons are being brought from half way across the world for businesses to have a smaller payroll to the detriment of locals. WHile I emphatize with the business owners, but where do locals go and what do they do if this continues? Sounds like a powder keg that will explode on all of us. Your own has to eat first. Find the perfect one that fits your business. There are lots and lots of them out there.
Y’all lated more striking left to be done, first country in the world underpaying the most important people in the country. Country can’t run without nurses or doctors yet nursing job the number papi show business in the bvi. How yall expect people to be taking insult licks risking their life to save us yet they are not being appreciated. This place sick my stomach country leading by a blind.
Vincent you are to passive in your land of la la. Your people are dying you need to take action and improve the health services.
If more money and better management needs to be in placed then you and the premier need to do what you have to do.
You all have allowed to much supporters of the other party to be placed in key positions where some of them are hell bent for sabotage even if it hurts the country allegedly.
And he is being hung out as a sacrifical lamb. Does that damn HSA which has operational responsibility of the Hospitals take ANY responsibiity at ALL .Are they accountable for anything . A blind man can see that they HSA is obstructing VIP from getting anything accompished and the party is doing nothing nothing about it, But it will backfire on them in a big way.
When a supervisor expresses confusion regarding an internal personnel action, it may indicate a lack of awareness of the typical internal dynamics involved in the institution’s daily operations.
Appears such is the best wee can expeect with the current elected leadership.
Change is clearly needed. A new government with competent individuals is needed immediately.
Hahahaha , he is the minister responsible for health and he didn’t knew about the nurses strike.. OMG
I Bet you, that when it comes to the * prices at the bars in VG , he know them all hahahahaha, waste of time …
Seriously Minister what did you expect?
BVIHSA in more trouble than the Minister thinks! Trust me it doesn’t look good, but he manages to bandage everything except his LIP…
Their employment should be terminated ,,,,they violated their contract.
Absent from medical duty without cause and or notice,knowingly and deliberately creating a life and death situation is a FELONY in the real world of democratic governance and civility.
they were “sick”. That’s cause for not showing up to work. And the labour code does not demand a doctor’s not for one day sick
Doctor’s written verifications for each individual of the overnight sudden illness en masse of the nursing staff
???
Haven’t heard or read of such,
Well ,considering the affirmations of a BVI free of underhanded and corruption free operations irregardless of proof to the contrary…proof letters would be a no nevermind.
This Man Wanted Nothing to do with Health Services. He was placed there Not by Choice. Caring for Humans is Not in his DNA. This Man cares Nothing about what goes on in Health Care always Blaming Somebody else.
Can’t wait for All of Them to be Gone. One Thing I heard that VG is seeing a Bright Light at the End of the Tunnel!!!! A New Day is Dawning on VG. Can’t Wait!!! Out with the Old, In with the New. VG needs to Breathe again.
Hey you forget it was supposed to be THOSE WHITE COLONIALIST SLAVE MASTERS who was supposed to get the blame ,ASUSUAL / whenever things goes wrong •••
UNCLE VINNIE ‘IS SAYING )> JUST BECAUSE WE GIE WESELF AH LIL RAISE AND THEY AIN’T GEH ANY , DEM FLEXING OFF DEM SELVES, THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND THAT IZ WE WHO RUNNING THE , TERRITORY ,SO WE COMZ FUSZ ,THEY GINE GAH WAIT UNTILL WE TEK CARE OF WESELF FUSZ , WEN EVA DAT IZ ■
Uniforned medical Staff of a Hospital do not have the privilege of work actions and without advance notice.
These individuals are now proven to be untrustworthy and a threat to human lives.
Easily and without conscience such dastard behaviour is easily overlooked given that such action is simply the norm as usual Black human on Black human crime. Black dogs,in contrast their lives are given more concern respect and protection,
The participants of this dastard behaviour would be subject to legal action and their licenses
would be revoked.
So unnecessary and deliberate with evil jntent.,,if you are unhappy/ dissatisfied,simply remove yourself and install elsewhere more to your needs, likings and preferences. Nurses are needed everywhere and elsewhere. Placing patients lives in jeopardy is criminal.
Shut up ….but the authority must do what they want. Once the nurses are from here their paycheck is so big they don’t have to worry about a raise but the others must suffer. All they are all qualified pay them the same.
Please hush… you don’t know what it feels like to work 12 hour shifts and not getting over time paid but in fact getting paid for 8 hours! Instead of 12!!!! When u feel it then open your mouth but for now!!!!! Shut up!!!!!!
Fire them all and appoint others with strict dedication under contract. Furthermore young graduates should not be manning emergencies without a doctor present. Spend money on doctors and stop spending on waste.
They are protesting because management is paying and wasting millions of dollars for this accreditation which brings no benefit to the Island while workers have not gotten a raise or an increment since the 2017 hurricane. That is the issue. They have wasted money paying three different consultants to do salary review without implementing any of the recommendations that the consultation offered.
Pay the people them. They need to live too not just survive. The Chief and the ministers got a wallop. Public servants got a raise. How about the poor healthcare workers. The money to pay the workers management have it paying for accreditation. That cannot be good. Really now and there is still chatter about confirming CEO to post. That would be the death nail to the health services.
So we haven’t learned?
A vg resident died due the hospital being closed… We hac learned??(I hope them had sue the pants of the government) Doubt it
During coron era we had issue with those in charge cutting workers pay in dosh hospital only to increase their own…. We haven’t learned??
Then Cindy spill the tea of workers having to ration essential supplies cuz government does take decades to resupply…… So we haven’t learned?
But I guess the politicians don’t care about the public health care services. They got private insurance and go to more developed and maintained facilities. Smh
Let anything happen to any of my family due to government negligence towards public health care. I will be laughing to the bank!!
Yes — if all nurses suddenly leave and do not report to work without notice, it is generally considered unacceptable and unsafe in healthcare.
Why it is unacceptable
1. Patient safety
• Hospitals must ensure continuous care for patients (ICU, ER, ventilated patients, etc.).
• If all nurses leave at once, patients could be placed at serious risk.
2. Legal and ethical duty
• Nurses have a professional obligation not to abandon patients once they have accepted an assignment.
• In the U.S., this is considered patient abandonment, which can be investigated by a state board of nursing.
3. Nursing strikes are organized differently
• When nurses strike, it is usually organized by a union such as National Nurses United.
• Hospitals are typically given advance notice (often about 10 days) so they can arrange replacement staff and maintain patient care.
4. Hospitals stay open
• During strikes in places like New York, hospitals bring in travel or agency nurses to prevent patient harm.
Important distinction
• Acceptable: Organized strike with advance notice and patient coverage.
• Unacceptable: Nurses suddenly walking out during a shift or not reporting with no system for patient care.
CHATGPT SAYS SO
what bvi nursing council goin do with this?
Just simply a demonstration of the intrinsic cannibalistic propensity of the updeislun pigs.
Their humanworth is nil.
Consider the murder rate in their CARICOM hellholes.
From my observation,it appears that the majority of these s
“Sick out” medical employees urinated from places where the salary is at least !/4 of what they are paid in these BVI. In additiknand deplorable these VI expend many times mire than that to shoulder the expensive incarceration and other criminal associated ma newfound expense to these VI, in addition the presence of thus demographic has destabilized everything worthwhile and that which was the innate character of wholesomeness and decency which is what placed us on the world map. Our once respected and lauded schools have become drug and gun dens of their bastard children and we are forced to have our children shipped out and educated in the US, College acceptances of the students are at colleges so low on intellectual value,that they are never mentioned publically. Many must attend our local community college for 2years at least after high-school simply to have the ability to complete a college application.These human waste in uniform from updeislun are a waste of good money, Their presence costing our essence and our basic survival. At least 4 times what they are paid in their CARICOM pits we pay them and more than that to maintain their wasted criminals here in a lifestyle beyond what they know but they respond with deadly intent on their charges…the ill and hospitalized. Their curse can never end. Drain
the swamp of these critters.
Yes, it is the US dollar salary that attracts most of them because when they hear the salary and do the conversion it sound like a lot. Surprisingly whem the gets here the realize half of the salary goes into rent. Then water, telephone electricity, tax. NHI social security, cost of living takes the next half of the salary so they have to scrape to save $100 at the end of the month. Try living in their shoes and see what it is like. Plus if they should ever get sick The health authority is so inhumane that not even the NHI copay is not waived for these workers while all the smaller private clinics in the BVI waive copay for their workers. Just think of that.
So the sensible and responsible thing would be to return home and live with salary offered by your country as it is not any less than the BVI’s after expenses.
In addition, noting the social bugaboo imposed by imports of said demograhic why stay to demonstrate callous behaviour and risk lives.
I am speaking as one who fail to comprehend the seemingly comfortable and the seemingly entitled actions of taking/ risking lives as your right….as demonstrated not only in this instance in these BVI,but in your home country and every where else of resulting migration The lack of sanctity of human life is prominent and seemingly a cultural portion of being Native to the upper Caribbean chain and certainly dims the prospect of progressive and worthy,safe living as Karma and Curses are the reaulting prevalence and continue
as the pervasive results for generations.
.
“Rupchan Simboo”
Google and read about this current Trini contribution and one of many such contributions way dem so go full speed with foul.
Them vg clowns going still vote him back in.
Even after a man died seeking treatment at vg clinic only to see it closed…
Rip bucky mehosn
I hoped them had sue the pants of the government. (Doubt it)
Easy, they’re tired of being taken advantage of because majority are women. It’s a cultural thing and it shouldn’t be