The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE training for some 15 nursing students at Terreve College is still on hold because of an unsigned memorandum of understanding by the Public Hospitals Authority, even though the college has supplied all the necessary requirements to the PHA and the Department of Public Services since January, The Tribune was told.

The students - who have been out of class for an entire semester - are being prevented access to clinical training at the Rand Memorial Hospital. Initially, 25 students were enrolled in the nursing programme, but the number has dropped to 15 as the college awaits the signing of the MOU.

The students are entering their second year of training and must complete certain practical exercises at the hospital to move onto their next level of training. Terreve College’s nursing programme has been approved by the Nursing Council of The Bahamas, which is the body responsible for approving all nursing programmes in the country.

Due to the shortage of nurses in the health care system, the need for trained nurses is critical.

When contacted on Monday, Mary Johnson, registrar at the Nursing Council, confirmed that the nursing programme at Terreve College had been approved in 2014.

“We went down and visited the facility and we did what we would normally do when a programme is coming on stream, and they were given the stamp of approval on their programme based on what we were told at the time,” she said.

Ms Johnson said that in addition to reviewing the programme, their team visited a couple of the prospective places where the students would do their clinical training.

When asked her comments about the shortage of nurses in the Bahamas, she, however, declined to comment and said she could not speak to that.

Herbert Brown, managing director of PHA, told The Tribune when contacted last week that the PHA is awaiting directives from the Department of Public Service before a decision is made on the MOU.

“I understand that this matter was taken before the courts and there was a ruling, but the Public Service has not yet decided as far as I am aware. Therefore, the PHA is not prepared until such time as we are in a position to understand the final outcome to accept any students (at Terreve College) at this time,” he said at the time.

In June last year, the Department of Public Service removed Terreve College from its list of recognised institutions after implementing policy changes.

Terreve College then brought a judicial review case against the Department of Public Service. In January, Supreme Court Justice Ian Winder ruled in favour of the college and ordered that the decision to revise the policy be quashed. The ruling would have reinstated the status quo for Terreve to be put back on the DPS’ list of recognised approved tertiary institutions.

Mr Brown said that he is awaiting directives from DPS concerning Terreve’s status.

Terrence Archer, owner, and founder of Terreve College, said the institution has been given the run around for quite some time concerning the MOU.

Mr Archer stated that he sent a copy of the judicial review, as well as the international accreditation that the DPS had requested, to Mr Brown in early January.

“He said that he wanted proof that it was so, and Mr Brown indicated to me his acknowledgement of receipt of the judicial review and the international accreditation. This should have cleared everything up concerning the college’s status,” he said.

Mr Archer said Mr Brown informed him that he would inquire of the DPS to confirm the same, and would get back to him as it relates to the MOU.

In fact, he said that the DPS was also given the four-year accreditation it had initially requested from Terreve College, satisfying the DPS requirements of being retained on its list of recognized colleges.

“The DPS had the accreditation before we sent one to Mr Brown. They say Terreve is recognised and but it seems as it the green light has not been given,” Mr Archer said.

Samuel Bethel, vice president of operations at Terreve, said the students are now sitting out of class until they can get their practical training done.

“They had started at the Rand but we have to wait for the MOU to be signed,” he said.