Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis. Photo: Donavan McIntosh
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis is convinced doctors will not jeopardise the healthcare of patients as members of the Consultant Physicians Staff Association head into their third day of industrial action.
Dr Minnis declined to comment substantively on the doctors’ concerns when asked yesterday, but said he will reach out to CPSA head Dr Locksley Munroe and try to reach an amicable solution with him, “colleague to colleague”.
The Public Hospitals Authority activated its emergency operations centre on Tuesday, declaring that all out-patient specialty clinics and elective surgeries have been cancelled until further notice as 115 senior doctors withdrew their services following failed negotiations with PHA.
Senior doctors are fighting for a base salary increase from $48,000 to $75,000, but PHA reportedly would agree to an increase up to only $60,500.
Meanwhile, the Bahamas Nurses Union is seeking permission to have a strike poll on December 4 while the Bahamas Doctors Union, the representative body for junior doctors in the country, is considering industrial action as well.
“I am a physician also and therefore I want to hear my colleagues’ concerns,” Dr Minnis told the press after the House of Assembly broke for luncheon recess. “I will call Munroe and see what the issues are.”
Dr Minnis met with the CPSA weeks ago, but did not resolve their issues.
“I’m confident that doctors are very reasonable individuals, they’re professionals,” he said.
“I’m confident we can come to an amicable solution. The last thing any doctor wants to do is jeopardise patients’ care. That is not our training. I’ll give an example. There is a particular doctor who, because he feels that patients may possibly be delayed in receiving their healthcare, he has offered services at his private office, but once an individual has a booking for any particular clinic and they cannot be seen, they can come with that appointment plan to a private facility and be seen by him, free of charge. That’s how doctors are. We are not driven by money. We are driven by our profession, which is to care for people. The last thing a doctor will do is compromise individual’s care.”
Dr Minnis was referring to a special free clinic offered this Friday and Saturday by Dr Harold Munnings to accommodate patients affected by the doctors’ actions this week. The clinic runs 10am-1pm on Friday and 9.30am-12.30pm on Saturday at Grosvenor Medical Centre. Priority will be given to the elderly and Family Island patients; persons must bring a PMH appointment slip and medication.
Dr Minnis also dismissed Official Opposition Leader Philip “Brave” Davis’ criticism of the government’s handling of the matter.
“He’s the opposition, meaning he opposes,” he said. “But he’s the leader of the opposition, so he is the leader of the opposing faction, so he’ll oppose anything we say. If we say the world is black, he’ll say it’s blue.”
'Don't use public hospitals to treat private patients'
STRIKING doctors have been warned they must not use public hospital facilities to treat private patients during their current action against the Public Hospitals Authority.
The warning will hit the consultants hard in the pocket as without the operating rooms and other facilities of the Princess Margaret Hospital and other centres, their earnings will be drastically reduced so long as their action continues.
PHA Managing Director Catherine Weech told The Tribune last night: “We made it very clear to them that if they would not provide to the public in our hospitals then they couldn’t provide to private patients either.
“We are trying to manage that but accept we need to be real about it. (Minister of Health Dr Duane) Sands made it clear that our facilities must not be used.”
Ms Weech said the PHA accepted that consultants may attend surgeries with what they could inform the authority was an emergency situation.
“But I am cognizant of the fact that we have no way of knowing for certain that when an emergency pops up that it is in fact an emergency,” she said.
Over the coming days, she said, the PHA would be monitoring the numbers of patients passing through theatres to see if it is consistent with what the authority would expect from its “no private“ instructions.
Comments
joeblow 5 years, 4 months ago
I'm sorry, the PM is clueless!
Well_mudda_take_sic 5 years, 4 months ago
Dimwitted Minnis is about as asinine and dumb as they come. It's beyond comprehension how this guy ever became a medical doctor, but we know it was the stupidity of the voters that allowed him to become PM. LMAO
proudloudandfnm 5 years, 4 months ago
Fillipino doctors and nurses pretty much do everything anyway. All Minnis dem need to do is ignore the Bahamians on strike....
No biggie....
TheMadHatter 5 years, 4 months ago
It patients are "save in doctors' revolt" - then for God's sake fire the all. What we need them for? Pay their severance pay and wish them the blessing of our Lord in their future endeavors.
Just an observation, though, WHY would anyone go away and do 8 years of hell to become a doctor to earn $48,000? I would rather drive taxi and catch tips. Some taxi who gets passengers from the private airport probably make more than that anyway.
TalRussell 5 years, 4 months ago
Told some comrade doctors not only work out PMH but hold privileges over at Doctors Hospital..... all whilst collecting PeoplePublicPurse paycheques.... plus run private practices... all whilst living behind walls gated communities... be interested know who owe deep obligation their medical school fees courtesy PeoplesPublicPurse? It's PeoplePublic Time Universal BahamaCARE.
Ironic isn't it, what we have here are some same doctors who want see cap placed on maximum range BahamaCARE patient benefits but don’t believe in budget caps on their PeoplesPublicPurse take home paycheques.
sheeprunner12 5 years, 4 months ago
This is such a black eye against the PM and the MOH ......... two senior doctors cannot seem to get this Ministry sorted out ......... Or is this the PLP mole at work???????
John 5 years, 4 months ago
Yes this may be a case of ‘Et tu Brute ‘ (that’s Latin for ‘Let’s get )’. If you are a senior doctor and still have to fight government about salaries, it means you are also not successful at your private practice. So you attempt to increase your income by forcing the government. And just like the devil, you decide to bring the angels (nurses) with you.
joeblow 5 years, 4 months ago
Et tu = 'and you' in Latin!
John 5 years, 4 months ago
I typed "Et Tu Brute'? " (from the scene in Julius Caesar), but autocorrect decided to minimize the effect of my post.
John 5 years, 4 months ago
"Et Tu Brute'? (that's Latin for "let's get Minnis")
TalRussell 5 years, 4 months ago
Looks likes Comrade Tribe White Coats at PMH, have completed their prognosis Dr. Duane to now move on to take advantage Minni's lack negotiation skills and governing weaknesses... at ready move in for kill upon what they see as the defenseless last few pennies locked away in vaults PeoplesPublicPurse.
TalRussell 5 years, 4 months ago
Strong street corners rumoured has it host Guardian Talk Radio show Let’s Talk Live Comrade Carlton - once also rumoured be moving on over to head ZNS - is in he last days before moving on from Guardian?
birdiestrachan 5 years, 4 months ago
doc says he will call the Doctors to find out what are their concerns? Is he serious every one else knows what the Doctors concerns are except him. Doc the peoples time voters, voted for you they except you to solve the problems.
Now put on your "We march " black shirt and fix it. you can not blame the PLP for this one. In the mean time you and yours seems to be having a good time. Travels, Contracts consultants. fees..
John 5 years, 4 months ago
@Why do birds fly South for winter? Not everyone knows. In fact, not everyone knows birds do fly South from winter. And what about the birds that are already South? do they fly North for summer? The point is in the process of negotiating, it is not unusual for the top official to call up those in discontent, or even reach out to both sides of the dispute in hopes of reaching a settlement. When Trump went to North Korea to meet with "Little Rocket Man", they both already knew what the contention was. And Trump was told, " if you call me Little Rocket Man", one more time there will be problems. The point is, a settlement in this dispute is not unreachable. But it can only be achieved by parties, including the PM, reaching out to each other. A famous quote: "you don't get what you deserve; you get what you negotiate."
Godson 5 years, 4 months ago
This is an old political trick from Pindling days. Pindling often fostered conditions that were the principle catalyst of problems he then took over to solved. He would come along and act as though he, alone, possessed the problem solving skills needed to resolve the issue. The people were left with the impression that no other person in the Cabinet, back then, had problem solving skills. They were fooled to believed that no one else could have done the job except PM Pindling..
sheeprunner12 5 years, 4 months ago
How are things with LBT under that rock???? .......... Keep hiding
bogart 5 years, 4 months ago
These issues of... Doctors.... and ....Nurses ....an Gubbermint ....go back to around January 2016 ..? And 2014......The Representives of these unions are the ones at fault for ....not getting their very critical demands.....resolved... years ago and ....on the Gubbermint side the Gubbermint representatives.....meeting with the Union Executives......If it were that an amicable settlemdnt can be resolved........then why was the public and critically more importantly the patients used as hostages....????........ ....The Union Officers responsible and the Gubbernmint officials are BOTH NEGLIGENT FOR .........NOT RESOLVING ....THERE NEGOTIATIONS YEARS AGO......AND MUST BE FIRED....FOR.... USING THE PUBLIC AND PATIENTS .....AS HOSTAGES .....TO ACHIEVE THEIR OWN GOALS...!!!!!!!!!???.......WAY PAST DUE THAT THOSE BARGAINING OFFICIALS BE FIRED......FOR DELAYS....FROM YEARS AGO......AN NOW CAUSING PATIENTS AN PUBLIC TO BE HELD HOSTAGE WHO HAD NOTTIN TO DO WID NO DISPUTE JUS INNOCINT BYSTANDERS...,!!!!
bogart 5 years, 4 months ago
AFTER THE PAY INCREASES AT PMH THE INEVITABLE NEXT STEPS WILL BE THE INCREASE IN FEES AT PRIVATE OFFOCES......AND THE INEVOTABLE CORRESPONDING INCREASES PLUS A BIT MORE FOR ADMINISTRATION.WITH.....THE INSIRAMCE PREMIUMS......and being deducted from the paychecks leaves less disposable oncome.....so forth ....an so on....down....
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