Nurses cry for help

Some nurses at the Spanish Town Hospital are raising alarm bells about what they describe as unsafe and unsustainable staffing levels, which they say put both patients and professionals at risk.

"This is not just about being tired, it's about being placed in constant situations where our licences are in a state of compromise," one nurse told THE WEEKEND STAR on condition of anonymity.

Nurses across the island say their workload has become overwhelming, with many struggling to keep up with mounting responsibilities.

"The constant practice of poor staffing is unsafe," one nurse said.

"We always get the blame if anything goes wrong and our licence is easy to get taken away or go under investigation. We are not saying nurses should not be held accountable, but give us safer conditions first, and then we can be held accountable."

Nurses claim the issue has persisted for years, with little change. In its 2023 annual report, the Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ) reported that in many hospitals the average nurse-patient ratio was 1 nurse to 18 patients, with some units reaching as high as 1 to 34.

The nurses at Spanish Town Hospital said it has been hard to efficiently performed their tasks, giving the ratios. The workers are questioning why the South East Regional Health Authority, under which the hospital falls, has not moved faster to recruit more nurses.

"In September, only six nurses were hired, after just eight the previous year. Some of those have already resigned. The explanation is always that there are no posts available, but posts should be made available when staff are constantly leaving," one nurse said.

The nurses also allege that opportunities for professional development are being stifled. "Hospitals refuse to send staff for advanced training, yet level one registered nurses are placed in specialities that require advanced qualifications. That is unsafe and unfair," one said.

Contacted for comment, the hospital's CEO Jacqueline Ellis acknowledged the shortage.

"I cannot speak to the statistics off-hand, but I know for certain that there is a shortage of nurses. We have always struggled with this, especially in the area of specialist nurses. And this is not unique to Spanish Town Hospital, it is a shortage right across the island," she said.