By Sue-Ann Wayow
THE regional health authorities (RHAs) in Trinidad and Tobago have been trying to keep their nursing and midwife staff.
From October 2020 to May 2021, 255 nurses have been staffed at the various RHAs signifying an increase in the nursing staff especially to deal with Covid-19 says Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh.
Speaking in the Senate on Wednesday, Deyalsingh said, T&T like many other countries has experienced a migration of nurses and midwives.
Last year, 106 either left the system for various reasons including pregnancy, resignation, migration or were reassigned to different RHAs he stated.
Deyalsingh said that the Government over the years have attempted to retain nursing and midwife staff and there were several strategies being implemented by the RHAs to retain their services.
He said, “There are several opportunities for continuous career and professional development including training that facilitates an upward mobility and allow nurses to specialize as registered nurses. Over the years the regional health authorities continuously created a positive work environment to retain staff by granting incentives for work load management, twilight shifts, job sharing, autonomy, clinical and social support, work-life balances and recognition and appreciation through awards for service and excellence.”
The minister said he was aware of brief contractual arrangements made with nurses and he will be meeting with the various stakeholders in continued discussions on retaining nurses and midwives in the public healthcare sector.
