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Nurses’ Association weighs in on termination of GPHC’s Matron

Jul 15, 2015 News

“There is no strategic plan for nursing services,” is the stated concern of the Guyana Nurses’ Association (GNA), which in a statement said that this state of affairs has brought into existence “confusion.”
And if this “confusion” is left unaddressed, the Association is of the firm view that a catastrophic situation could be the ultimate result.
In order to qualify its conviction, the GNA pointed to an example whereby the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Mr Michael Khan, is allowed to make the final decisions on nursing matters.
Moreover, the nursing body has concluded that “there is confusion with regards to the line of authority resulting in poor supervision and nursing care.”
For this reason, the GNA said that it has noted with concern the attempts to remove the Director of Nursing Services (Matron), Sister Colleen Hick, due to alleged insubordination.
“The GNA is urging the relevant authority to deal with this situation urgently, fairly and professionally before it escalates, becomes ugly, and causes embarrassment to a senior functionary, as there are attempts to create a ‘friendly burial society’,” the GNA’s statement further noted.
In addressing the foregoing, the Association is recommending that: a new GPHC Board be installed; a thorough investigation be done regarding the problems at GPHC, in particular the root cause of the ‘so-called’ insubordination, and that moves be made to investigate deaths in other sections of the hospital other than the maternity unit, where the focus now lies.
The GNA said that it has also observed the number of training programmes undertaken by the institution over the years and thinks it is time an evaluation is done in order to assess the impact on the quality of care offered.
“GNA had previously expressed some of these concerns to the CEO and previous Board. The GNA hopes that the new government will address the Association’s concerns sooner rather than later,” the statement continued.
Hicks’ termination has thus far attracted much controversy and even saw nurses of the GPHC opting to protest the decision. An official complaint was also lodged by Hicks with the Guyana Public Service Union, which represents the interests of a wide cross section of public servants, including nurses.
As part of its representation, the GPSU had written to the GPHC CEO requesting that the termination decision be rescinded. The GPSU has also taken its concerns to President David Granger who had reportedly requested of Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, to look into the matter.
GPSU’s General Secretary (ag), Kempton Alexander, told Kaieteur News that the Union is standing its ground in terms of representing Hicks. Hicks has been advised by the Union to continue to report for work as per normal, despite efforts by the hospital’s CEO to give a detailed explanation to justify his action.
According to GPSU President Patrick Yarde, although he was overseas when Khan decided to terminate Hicks, he had offered recommendations as to how the matter could have been easily resolved. Without detailing his recommendations, he intimated to this publication that “I had spoken to both the Minister (of Health) and Permanent Secretary. I am disappointed to return and find that that has not happened,” said Yarde, who is optimistic that his recommendations would still be adhered to.

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