Nurse association calls for meeting with Ministry of Health over safety concerns

The Barbados Nurses Association (BNA) is calling for an urgent meeting with the Ministry of Health and Wellness to address what it describes as a worsening crisis in the safety and protection of frontline nurses.

The association convened an emergency meeting on Wednesday at the Sir Garfield Sobers Sports Complex, following recent violent incidents at the Randal Phillips and Frederick Miller Polyclinics that left nurses shaken and forced one facility to temporarily shut its doors.

In a statement issued after the meeting, BNA President Dr Fay Parris said nurses were working under conditions of fear and frustration, citing inadequate security measures and repeated exposure to abuse. She said the situation underscored the need for immediate reforms.

The BNA is calling for standardised safety protocols across all clinics and hospitals, including the installation of CCTV cameras, entry scanners, panic buttons with linked emergency response systems, and the presence of trained security personnel.

The association also raised concerns about the safety of nurses conducting community visits, as well as ongoing staff shortages, particularly among Health Sisters, that is, public health nurses critical to outreach and assessment.

Parris said despite repeated warnings over the past two years, upgrades to security systems have been inconsistent and often reactive.

“The nursing community is united, focused, and prepared to ensure that these issues receive the attention they warrant,” she said.

The Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB) also attended the meeting and pledged its full support for the BNA’s advocacy efforts. (SM)