The Ministry of Health highlights that nurses at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital are only encouraged to work three 12-hour shifts each week to remain within labour law requirements.

Assistant Minister for Health and Medical Services, Penioni Ravunawa says the current shift arrangement runs from 8am to 8pm and 8pm to 8am.

“At the moment, the 12-hour shift for the registered nurses that are currently stationed at CWM Hospital, they work from 8am to 8pm and then the change of shift is around 8pm in the night until 8am in the morning. So, they only work three days in a week to make up about 37 hours in a week and it’s within the labour law and also the Ministry of Health is providing transport for the nurses coming in for their 12-hour shift” Ravunawa highlighted.

Ravunawa highlights that the Ministry is also ensuring nurses are provided with rest areas and basic facilities while on duty.

“And also in the hospital premises, we try to see that they have a proper rest place and also a place where they can refresh themselves with hot beverages or reheat their food if they want to eat” he said.

He acknowledged the efforts of nurses, support staff and drivers for continuing to support the health system during staff shortages.

“So, I believe the Ministry has done all it can in the resources that we have right now in looking after the nurses. Having said that, we acknowledge and we thank our nursing managers, our pre-gymnastic association, the support staff, the drivers, the people that take the nurses to and from the hospital during their change of shift and we thank them for their perseverance and dedication and for bearing with the Ministry during this trying time as we wait for the new graduate nurses that are currently undertaking their internship programme which should end by around the end of September this year” he added.

Ravunawa says supervisors are also being reminded to ensure nurses do not exceed the maximum working hours allowed each week.

“At the moment, we only encourage the nurses to work only three days in a week if they do a 12-hour shift. We do not encourage anyone to work more than three days or more than 37 hours per week as according to the labour law and that is important for supervisors to ensure that the nurses are only required to do the 37 hours maximum in any given week” he said.

BY: JOELI RAGONELIWA