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Nurses Say No To Transfer; CEO Says, “I Don’t Know”
posted (May 23, 2014)
Recently, it seems the Ministry of Health has been lurching from crisis to crisis - and tonight it's the nurses who are complaining about CEO Peter Allen. On May 6th, the Nurses Association of Belize wrote to Chairman of the Public Services Commission Patrick Bernard complaining about the impending transfer of 9 senior nursing staff. The letter says, quote,"the proposed countrywide transfers of seven senior nurse managers and two infection control nurses…is being spearheaded solely by CEO Dr Peter Allen.

The nurses are administrators of regional and community hospitals and received "intent to transfer" letters in March. The Association says the way the entire process has been managed by the CEO is a quote, "total disrespect and disregard for nurses and the nursing profession!" That's because they say there were no formal consultations about the proposed transfers with Augustina Elijio the Chief Nurse in the Ministry of Health. The association says the Chief Nurse is the technical expert responsible for advising on all matters related to nurses and nursing.

And while that is a knock at Allen for his take charge attitude, in real terms the Nurses Associating says that the transfers will drive up costs, and create job dissatisfaction, quote "leading to undesirable consequences in light of the current nursing shortage crisis."

They urge the Public Service Commission to rescind the transfer and for the CEO seek the advice of the Acting Chief Nurse.

Today a Ministry of Health spokesperson told us that the CEO hasn't even seen the letter. It is with the Director of Health Services Dr. Michael Pitts and neither CEO nor DHS were in office today. The letter arrived at the Ministry at 4:00 pm yesterday. As for rescinding the transfers - the ministry spokesperson says that is impossible because no letter of transfer has been sent to the public service, only the intent to transfer has been sent.

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