Bahamas Nurses Union President Amancha Williams does not think the government is serious about addressing the country’s nursing shortage.
“We are now like a jewel,” Williams said.
“We have nurses leaving in large [numbers]. Just about three weeks ago, we had three nurses who left off of one ward. That put us in a poor state. We have nurses moving out of the eye clinic where our patients are
going blind.
“You say that you need nurses? We have an industrial agreement that we’re waiting for. How long should we wait?”
Williams said the union gave the government a list of nurses willing to work to assist with the country’s shortage.
But it appears that those nurses are not being called, she said.
When asked if she believes the government is serious about addressing the shortage, Williams replied, “I don’t think so. It’s moving slow. The way that they’re moving about it, it’s too slow.”
However, Minister of Health Dr. Michael Darville insisted that the government is “very serious” about addressing the shortage and is taking steps to train more nurses locally while bringing more retired nurses back to work at hospitals and clinics.
“Remember, we have been in office for just over one year and these essential discussions are already on the table,” Darville said.
“In this budget cycle, many infrastructural upgrades are taking place to improve the work environment for healthcare [professionals].
“But I must say that as progress is being made, the US and Canada continue their recruitment exercises locally and throughout the Caribbean.”
Darville noted healthcare professional shortages is a global phenomenon.
He said the issue was addressed among Commonwealth leaders at the last Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
“We are using many diplomatic means for the recruitment of foreign nurses and allied healthcare professionals to address our critical needs,” Darville said.
“But the bigger issue is our need to create more attractive remuneration packages for our nurses to prevent the brain drain and keep our healthcare workers at home.”
Prime Minister Philip Davis has promised to raise salaries for nurses in this budget period.
Even before COVID-19 swept across the globe, in early 2020, The Bahamas was facing a shortage of nurses.
The issue became a vital one in the pandemic as hospitals quickly became overwhelmed and staff stretched to capacity.
At multiple points during the second and third waves of COVID, beds were available but could not be used because of the shortage of nurses.
Last month, Darville pointed to a report which indicated that The Bahamas was short 400 nurses.
He said when he came to office in September, he realized that The Bahamas had a shortage of about 150 specialty nurses.
