Nurses want removal of NCRHA CEO; Doctors want change in management approach

The TT Registered Nurses Association said it was time for the CEO of the North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA), Davlin Thomas to removed.

In a Facebook post, the association called on the Health Minister to appoint a qualified doctor or nurse in the position, or let Eastern RHA CEO Ronald Tsoi-a-Fatt act in the position until a suitable replacement was found.

The statement also expressed support for the medical professionals, saying the recent move by the CEO to change the medical staff treating Covid19 patients at the Couva Hospital demoralised all nursing and medical staff, as they have been working as a close-knit team for over a year.

The TTRNA further stated that “nursing and midwifery personnel, doctors, and other clinical staff have suffered too long at the hands of this CEO. Continuous short-term employment, one and a half days deducted for 1 day absent, no gratuity payments, delayed increment payments, etc. The list is exhaustive!”

The TTRNA said it will be escalating their media campaign to have the CEO out of the NCRHA in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, the TT Medical Association has slammed the management of the NCRHA, following changes made to the medical staff treating Covid19 patients at the Couva Hospital.

Keegan Bhaggan, PRO for the Medical Association said, “We do not support the NCRHA management’s approach that leads only to the demoralisation of health care workers, especially those leading the frontline fight against Covid19 at the Couva Hospital and Multi-Training Facility at this crucial time.”

UNC Cumuto/Manzanilla MP Dr Rai Ragbir recently stated that the transfer of senior doctors put a strain on the parallel health care system. He also blamed the move for high occupancy rates and said it may have been a factor in the government declaring a state of emergency.

In an immediate response, the NCRHA issued a press release saying that the doctors were not being transferred but rotated to be given a rest and prevent burnout after working at the covid19 facility for over a year.