Nurses union and govt. making headway, health minister says

Nurses union and govt. making headway, health minister says
Amancha Williams, Bahamas Nurses Union(BNU) President led a protest earlier this year over outstanding overtime payments and other issues. (file photo)

Some headway is being made to address the shortfall of nurses in the healthcare sector, according to health minister Dr. Duane Sands, who revealed Tuesday that a new cohort of nurses who recently graduated have been added to the system.

This, he said, as nurses are being recruited by facilities in the United States (US).

He touted that the new additions should lighten the workload currently burdening the healthcare sector.

The issue regarding a new shift system, however, remains as a bone of contention between the Ministry of Health and the Bahamas Nurses Union (BNU).

The union has rejected the new system that health officials have reported should improve services to the general public.

Dr. Sands reported today that all parties are making significant headway in ironing out the challenges.

He confirmed that arrears owed to nurses are also being addressed.

The Health Minister was unable to confirm the exact amount of monies which remain outstanding.

About Theo Sealy

Theo Sealy is an award-winning journalist who serves as senior broadcast reporter and weekend TV news anchor at Eyewitness News. He has achieved several career milestones, including his work as a field contributor with CNN, his coverage of four consecutive general elections, his production of several docuseries and his Bahamas Press Club Awards win for “Best Television News Story” in 2018.