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Nurse recruitment for new Peebles Hospital a significant concern – Health Minister

says monies outstanding for training provided
Minister for Health and Social Development Hon. Ronnie W. Skelton said that nurses posed a problem in the recruitment of staff for the new Peebles Hospital. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – According to the Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon. Ronnie W. Skelton, recruitment of nurses for the new Peebles Hospital will pose a problem, even as the pending date of completion for the hospital draws close.

During a meeting held for the constituents of the Fourth District last evening, November 15, 2012 at the Noel Lloyd Positive Action Movement Park, one resident expressed his unease about the cost and source of funding for the staffing and equipment at the new Peebles Hospital which is being constructed and currently slated for completion in August 2013.
 
The Hon. Minister in his response expressed that the estimated cost of equipment for the hospital was in the region of $10M and noted that some of the equipment was already purchased. He also noted that donations were being made of a CT scanner and a MRI machine.
 
He stated that the biggest challenge was staffing of the hospital and noted from observations made that there was a need for about 32 doctors. He expressed however, that he felt that this issue could be resolved.
 
He also said that the issue of sufficient nurses would also pose problem and said that “over the years… we trained quite a number of nurses… that never came back… and they never paid back either.”
 
“Our intention is to call them home or ask for our monies,” he said while acknowledging that “it’s not going to make up the number.”
 
The Hon. Minister also noted that there are currently a number of nurses being trained but indicated that even these would not suffice since the projected number of nurses needed was in the region of 200-odd nurses “if we’re going to ramp up the hospital overnight.”
 
“The whole intention,” he added, “was to do a phased approach so that whatever mistakes [are] made will not be multiplied… but we can have a learning curve and reduce mistakes.”
 
Hon. Skelton further indicated, “The protocol for what should happen, when it should happen and how it should happen is being done… so we have some challenges... but I don’t think the money for it is going to be the biggest challenge.”
 
The Minister in response to another question, also stated that the hospital is expected to be commissioned “within three months after” its date of completion.
 
“There were some studies that were already done that gave some markers… so we’re not going to re-invent the wheel, we’re going to go with some of those studies.”
 
During the meeting, residents raised concerns with Ministers about issues around the Territory that affected them including littering and construction works among others.
 
Hon. Skelton was joined by Hon. Mark Vanterpool, Hon. Myron V. Walwyn and Hon. Archibald C. Christian in answering these concerns.

19 Responses to “Nurse recruitment for new Peebles Hospital a significant concern – Health Minister”

  • Glad (16/11/2012, 08:31) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    I am so glad that Ronnie is back as Minister of Health to fix health becuase in the last NDP Administration he helped mash it up so he is the fittest person to try to fix it now.
  • nonsense (16/11/2012, 08:33) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    These kind of things to me is nonsense. When he started the construction project in 2007 he should have had the operation side of this project already factor in not come now wondering about the staffing of the new hospital. This is nonsense & is what cost us as tax payers unnecessary money because of Government's poor planning.
    • each his own (16/11/2012, 09:11) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      The Minister of today continues to use and deceive the public about the true facts about this hospital!
  • . (16/11/2012, 08:35) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    if he had plan the hospital properly and had sent away students to train, we would've never been in this predicament now
  • qick sand (16/11/2012, 08:36) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    pure old talk!
  • Need answers (16/11/2012, 08:38) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    I hold this Minister 90% responsible for the huge cost of this hospital project & for our cashflow problems as a result of the poor planning in the cost among other things in this project. He needs to answer for a lot of questionable decisions in this project especially for giving it to that Santo company for far less than it was suppose to cost & now we are wayyyyy over what was signed as predicted long before.
  • Yawnnn (16/11/2012, 08:40) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I hate to hear this man becuase he thinks he knows it all & continues to cost us major millions of dollars.
  • Boo (16/11/2012, 11:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Wow, when they finished BVI will have the most nurses and doctors per population and perhaps the most expensive health care system in the world! I wait to see what happens to the quality
  • Crank Shaft (16/11/2012, 11:53) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    32 doctors and 200 nurses to service 30,000 people plus a few tourists? This must be a fairy tale or dream? Who will pay them? I do agree with asking folks to come back home if they had an agreement to get training and return to serve. Either come back or pay back..the gravy train run off the tracks!
  • jack be still (16/11/2012, 11:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    EVEN WHEN THIS GOV'T DO SOME GOOD YOU VIP ALWAYS HAVE TOO GRIPE ABOUT IT
    • To jack be still (16/11/2012, 13:30) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Jack you still so long that you can't even move enough or think enough to understand what we are saying about this project. We welcome the project & good health care but plan it properly to avoid the huge millions of dollars wasted due to many original poor decisions that we continue to pay for that were made by this same Minister as a result of how he started this project under valued in 2007. Let him go Santo & get back the money he needs.
  • farmer brown (16/11/2012, 18:00) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I sincerly hope everything work out for the country's sake.
  • strupes (17/11/2012, 15:20) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Obviously we need someone competent to run our health system. Right now the BVI has more doctors and nurses than the population needs. Mr. Minister do your homework. We do not need more nurses. We need better management of our resources.
  • S.R. (20/11/2012, 07:33) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    What person wants to take a job when they cannot go to work yet? Maybe even in years? I know one nurse who will work, but not until it is open or at least opening is immenent.
  • bill drake (20/11/2013, 13:25) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    open the doors.....they will come

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  • Trishab (29/04/2014, 09:57) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply

    Get this cl..n out of this job now!!!

  • Terri (14/12/2014, 08:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    How do I get a job?
  • justox (18/01/2015, 18:24) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    I am looking forward in working at the Peebles hospital, to care for the sick.


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