PMH, Rand limited to emergency services

PMH, Rand limited to emergency services

Shutdown of majority of services, the result of union industrial action

As scores of junior doctors withdrew services over holiday pay issues, there was a shutdown of significant services at Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) and the Rand Memorial Hospital in Grand Bahama, among other public health facilities, as a result.

Approximately 400 junior doctors withdrew their services following failed negotiations with the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA), according to Bahamas Doctors Union (BDU) President Dr. Melisande Bassett.

The junior doctors said the PHA offered to pay five installments on holiday pay owed to them since 2014 when funds were available — an arrangement the union president called “unacceptable”.

“The Public Hospitals Authority regrets to advise members of the public that the recent industrial action taken by members of the Bahamas Doctors Union has resulted in services being reduced to emergencies only at the Princess Margaret Hospital, Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre, Rand Memorial Hospital and the Grand Bahama Community Clinics,” the PHA said.

“The authority deeply regrets the impact of this action on the provision of care to the Bahamian people.

“The authority thanks the public for their patience and understanding and will continue to provide regular updates regarding the resumption of services.”

 

About Royston Jones Jr.

Royston Jones Jr. is a senior digital reporter and occasional TV news anchor at Eyewitness News. Since joining Eyewitness News as a digital reporter in 2018, he has done both digital and broadcast reporting, notably providing the electoral analysis for Eyewitness News’ inaugural election night coverage, “Decision Now 2021”.