Nurses association condemns stabbing incident, demands urgent action from govt

Evening police patrols are being introduced following the stabbing of a nurse outside the St Philip District Hospital on Friday night.

The update comes from the Barbados Nurses Association (BNA), which says it has coordinated with law enforcement in response to the violent incident.

At the same time, the BNA has called on the Ministry of Health and Wellness to begin implementation of long-standing safety measures by Monday across institutions deemed vulnerable.

“These include debushing and clearing of obscured areas, installation and repair of security lighting, regular police patrols in high-risk zones, and the provision of reliable, secure transportation for healthcare workers, especially during night shifts,” the association stated.

Friday’s attack, believed to be an attempted robbery, occurred around 8 p.m. close to the hospital compound. The victim, a Ghanaian nurse, was stabbed in the neck and remains warded at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Her colleagues had demanded action and expressed fear for their safety over the dimly lit, isolated area they have to traverse between Hilda Skeene Primary School in Ruby and the District Hospital in Jezreel. They complained that years of appeal had fallen on deaf ears.

In a statement issued Sunday, the BNA condemned the attack as “a heinous act that strikes at the heart of the country’s healthcare system”.

The association stated that President Dr Fay Parris was overseas at the time of the incident and, upon her return, visited the injured nurse and the hospital staff, accompanied by the chair of the Social Economic Welfare and Industrial Relations Committee. The BNA also stated it has advocated for immediate psychological support.

However, the association noted that this incident was not an isolated case.

“Security breaches have become a recurring threat at multiple facilities. These are not just statistics; they are warning signs,” the BNA stated.

The association urged the Ministry of Health and Wellness to coordinate across government, particularly with National Security, Transport, and Public Works, to implement real, lasting protections.

It urged nurses across all institutions to stand in solidarity. (PR/BT)