Nursing shortage crippling hospital

It is no secret that the health sector is lacking the resources to properly care for all patients, and, according to a nurse at the Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) in St James, the lack of medical staff is sometimes to be blamed for the death of patients.

The nurse, who requested anonymity, said that she and her colleagues are overwhelmed, and they are calling on the health minister to intervene.

"Honestly, there are times when not all of the patients will get adequate care and attention because there are some who really need attention right around the clock and those are the ones that we have to keep our eyes on. Whenever that happens, sadly the other patients are ignored. Sometimes it's when the ward is being handed over (shift change) that we will realise that a patient has died and no one is aware of it," she said.

President of the Nurses Association of Jamaica Carmen Johnson said that she is aware of the nurse shortage at CRH, and added that many local hospitals are experiencing the same struggle.

"This is just the raw truth. We lost over 500 nurses last year and this year we have gone 300 already. Last year and the year before, Cornwall had poor air quality challenges and so what we found happening is that the migration was affecting them, they had a challenge recruiting persons," she said.

DOING OVERTIME

She said that the spaces the nurses have to work in are also very small, yet they still have a heavy patient load. Johnson told THE STAR that because of this shortfall, many of the nurses have to do sessions (overtime).

"You will come out today and instead of doing your eight hours, you are expected to work a double shift to cover the needs and so sometimes after doing all that you are going to have burnouts, you are going to have fatigue. Some nurses may not turn up because of that, plus people need to be given their days off," she said.

Regional Director for the Western Regional Health Authority, Errol Greene, admitted there is a shortage of nurses islandwide.

He said: "Nurses are asked to work beyond their 40 hours and therefore we rely very heavily on the nurses who understand the situation and we do appreciate them going to extra mile. I must commend our nurses who are working under these types of conditions."

Greene told THE STAR that the CRH is undergoing extensive renovations, and that many relocations have to be done because the surroundings may not be ideal.

He added that he is aware of the challenges medical staff face daily, and, as such, the authority tries to maintain communication with them.

"I am not saying that this is a bed of roses because it is not. We are working hard to get the hospital back to a state of readiness, where we can better what was there before the renovations started. More nurses can come now because they are needed. We have interviews next week," he said.