GPHC admin changes locks to prevent access to terminated Matron

Aug 13, 2015 News

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After months of turning up for work despite being issued with a letter of termination, Sister Colleen Hicks, was on Tuesday denied access to the office of the Director of Nursing Services (Matron) at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
Hicks was earlier this year appointed to the position but was issued with a letter of termination by Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Michael Khan, who had informed that the decision was based on “gross insubordination”. The termination was slated to be effective on June 15, 2015.
Hicks, who had sought the intervention of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), was advised to remain on the job.
This publication was however informed yesterday that a decision was taken at the level of the hospital’s administration to change the locks on the door of the Director of Nursing Services. Hicks’ continued inability to access the office yesterday saw her informing officials of the GPSU who turned up at the public hospital yesterday to launch an investigation into the development.
The CEO of the hospital was unreachable yesterday, but according to GPSU’s Senior Industrial Relations Officer, Dennis English, the way forward in addressing such situations is to “follow guiding principles and procedures and we have done that…We have made significant representation and definitely we are not happy that the matter is still not resolved.”
English disclosed yesterday, too, that since the hospital’s CEO opted to not respond to a letter from the Union to rescind the termination decision, the GPSU had taken its concerns to higher authority. He was in fact making reference to a meeting between the GSPU and President David Granger where the matter was raised and a decision was made for Minister of State Joseph Harmon to look into the matter.
“It was public knowledge that we have gone beyond the CEO… We have written to the CEO who has shown little or no regard by not responding to our correspondence…,” said English who lamented the ‘lock changing’ development.
“The locking of the door to the Matron’s office has put a whole other spin to the matter and because of that, among other things we are here….” said English, who with other representatives of GPSU, was seen in discussion with Sister Hicks.
“All along she has been reporting for duty…so definitely we have to address this and as we speak we have already made representation in that regard,” English assured, as he expressed hope that “good sense will prevail.”
Aside from English, the GPSU team, which visited and met with Hicks in the office of the Secretary to the Director of Nursing Services, included General Secretary (ag), Kempton Alexander, and Industrial Relations Officers Jermaine Hermanstine and Loyette Williams.
Hicks in an invited comment yesterday said that she is hopeful that there will soon be a solution to the situation. She went on to point out that the situation should have never reached to the stage at which it currently is, since the law – the Public Hospital Corporation Act of 1988 – that governs the hospital’s operations, does not support the action taken against her. Based on her perusal of the Act, Hicks insisted yesterday that the action taken against her constitutes a violation.
Although her service has been terminated on paper, Hicks said that she has been continuing her duties including advising nursing personnel on the way forward in improving their delivery of health care. She claims to have the support of the nearly 500 nursing personnel who fall under the purview of the Director of Nursing Services. And according to her too, the situation that persists has only served to demoralise the nursing staff, resulting in the poor delivery of care.
But based on some senior health officials, Hicks’ insubordination, the reason for her termination, had in fact made it difficult for the operation of the facility to be efficient and effective.
Following the issuance of Hicks’ termination letter, Assistant Director of Nursing, Sister Noshella Lalckecharan, was appointed by the hospital’s administration to act in the capacity of Director of Nursing Services. Lalckecharan however proceeded on leave on last week and has since been replaced by a senior departmental supervisor.
Reports reaching this publication suggest that because of some nurses’ desire to empathise with Hicks, there has been a serious breakdown in respect and order at the public hospital. This, one official said, is characterised by the situation of insubordination being exhibited by other nursing personnel. This publication was informed that the action of one nurse against a junior staff member was even tantamount to assault, a matter that is currently being addressed by the hospital’s administration.
Kaieteur News has been told, though, that the GPSU is supportive of the nursing staff’s signing of a petition that seeks to amplify what is being dubbed as “injustice” and “unfair treatment” of Hicks.

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