QEH vexes BAMP

PEEVED OVER a newspaper advertisement seeking a consultant urologist and a consultant pathologist for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), the Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners (BAMP) has called an emergency meeting of its members for Tuesday. BAMP will decide what action to take if the hospital’s board does not meet with it to discuss contract renewals for doctors and the process to be followed.The offending advertisement, appearing on Page 14 of the June 20 SUNDAY SUN, sought two fully registered medical practitioners with an approved postgraduate qualification in the speciality from a recognised institution, with not less than four years’ experience as consultant surgeon (urology) and consultant pathologist.Applicants were requested to email the QEH’s human resources department by Wednesday, June 30, if they had a proven track record of professional excellence in either of the two fields. However, in a letter dated June 22 and sent to Rev. Guy Hewitt, QEH chairman, BAMP accused the QEH board of “once again” violating the terms and conditions of service of the QEH as set out in “Section 1.1.6 by not advertising the posts internally first”, and requested an urgent meeting by Friday last.BAMP said it wanted to discuss the contract renewal for doctors and the process to be followed, and was looking forward to the board’s “urgent reply and action to this very serious matter”.It is understood that the meeting was not held.BAMP had advised the board that given the procedure being employed by the hospital on entry into new contracts of employment, “all contracted officers must stop working on the completion of their new contracts in the absence of a signed new contractual agreement, and BAMP shall so instruct all of its members”.  It had further stated that this would “regrettably adversely affect the functioning of the health sector, but is necessary in the light of the current situation”.President Dr Carlos Chase, while admitting that BAMP would be having an emergency general meeting on Tuesday, declined to comment on the letter signed by him and sent to chairman Hewitt, and obtained by the SUNDAY SUN. The meeting takes place at 9 a.m. at the QEH auditorium, Martindales Road, St Michael.According to a source, the agenda at the meeting on Tuesday will include an Update On The Current Situation At The QEH Re Contract Renewals, Hiring Of Doctors – QEH Board Policy And Practice, Government’s Current Policy Of Renewal Of Contracts For Doctors At The QEH, Polyclinics, District Geriatric And Psychiatric Hospitals, BAMP’s Position And The Way Forward.The source said all members of BAMP, including its executive members, are expected to attend. Doctors in the public sector have also been invited to attend.