Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

Sickout over! ER nurses reach agreement with BVIHSA

Sickout over! ER nurses reach agreement with BVIHSA

Nurses at the Emergency Room of Dr D. Orlando Smith Hospital have reportedly halted their sickout in protest of poor working conditions at the medical facility.

Virgin Islands News Online (VINO)’s sources said the number of issues plaguing the nurses and their support staff was many.

Our sources said they have not had any risk and uniform allowance for years, they suffer from a lack of proper facilities in the ER and inadequate staff, they have had a stagnant pay for years, they have experienced disrespect by the hierarchy and the lack of personal protective equipment is also an issue in this COVID-19 era.

We understood that since the sick-out protest started last Friday, February 4, 2022, a total of 22 nurses and their support staff took part in the sick-out protest.

Premier intervenes


We learned that Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1), along with Health Minister Hon Carvin Malone (AL), met with staff earlier in the week to discuss the concerns.

A follow-up meeting is also planned for this coming Monday as they had requested time to investigate the concerns and come up with solutions.

According to one of the ER nurses, the BVIHSA has agreed to immediately ensure that overtime is paid accurately and on time, along with providing sufficient personal protective equipment to protect staff and patients, and improving employer and employee relationship.


Nurses returning to work 'in good faith'


In the meantime, staff has pledged to act in good faith and resume work tomorrow.

According to one of the ER nurses, the BVIHSA has agreed to immediately ensure that overtime is paid accurately and on time, along with providing sufficient personal protective equipment to protect staff and patients, and improving employer and employee relationships.

“At this present moment we are acting in good faith because the institution has asked us for some time so that the internal committees can meet so they can put the proposal on the table and sort out what they would be able to give to us in the short term, medium-term and long term,” the BVIHSA’s employee informed, adding that they are confident that their requests will be met.

When the nurses proceeded on sickout, nurses from other departments were made to fill the void. This was criticised by the striking nurses, who said having nurses 'untrained for the ER' was risky.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
France Implements Nationwide Outdoor Smoking Ban to Protect Children
German Chancellor Merz Keeps Putin Guessing on Missile Strategy
Mandelson Criticizes UK's 'Fetish' for Abandoning EU Regulations
British Fishing Boat Owner Fined €30,000 by French Authorities
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
×