Gov’t moves forward with plans to recruit foreign based nurses temporarily

Racquel A. McKenzie

2 years ago

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Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton has alluded that several Memorandums of Understanding will be signed next week by the Government and hospitals in the US to aid the recruiting process of health care workers on a short-term basis.

This comes amid due to the low productivity levels at the nation’s hospitals caused by the increased shortage of nurses.

In March, doctors at the Cornwall Regional Hospital in St James expressed anguish at the limited number of nurses at the facility.

This phenom as underscored by some doctors hindered many surgeries from taking place.

“The nurses are leaving like flies; they are just flying out and so we have a chronic shortage of nurses. Currently, we cannot do surgeries in Falmouth at nights without moving mountains, because there is not enough nursing staff to run the theatre at night ” a physician lamented.

As such, Dr Tufton notes that this agreement will fill the gaps in the public health system as the ministry moves to clear the backlog of elective surgeries. Tufton also added that the repair of operating theaters and more collaboration with local health care workers should see the scheduling of longer hours