Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) chief executive officer Neil Clark has reaffirmed his commitment to addressing nurses’ concerns following a work stoppage at Accident & Emergency (A&E) Department on Monday evening.
In a statement, he said nurses had returned to their duties following discussions with hospital management and their representatives on Monday evening, adding that emergency services were continuing.
He said he also met with A&E nurses on Tuesday to discuss their concerns about salaries and working conditions, and to better understand the challenges they were experiencing.
Clark described the discussions as open and constructive and said he remained committed to working together with nursing staff to address their concerns and identify practical solutions.
“Our nurses work under considerable pressure, and I recognise and appreciate their dedication to caring for our patients. Their views are important. We are one team, and I firmly believe that listening to our staff and working together is essential to improving both their working environment and the care we provide to the public. I want all our staff to know that my door is always open. They can contact me directly at any time to share their concerns, ideas or suggestions,” he said.
General secretary of the National Public Workers Union (NUPW) Richard Green said the work stoppage occurred around 5 p.m. when nurses called for an urgent meeting with the union over staffing shortages and lack of resources.
He said patient care was affected as the department was already operating below its maximum capacity because of an acute staff shortage.
Following discussions between the union and hospital management on Tuesday, Green said the QEH agreed to allocate more nurses and assist with procuring equipment requested for the department. He added the hospital and the NUPW had also agreed on timelines for further consultations, including updates on the progress of the commitments made. (AJ/PR)