Crisis at GPHC: Matron to be sent on leave

Last Updated on Friday, 22 July 2016, 9:36 by Denis Chabrol

Health care delivery is currently in crisis at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) as the standoff between doctors and the Chief Matron, Colleen Hicks at the facility continues unabated.

Chairman of the GPHC Board of Directors, Dr Carl ‘Max’ Hanoman met with media operatives on Thursday at its Resource Centre, to provide a brief on the unsavoury situation at the hospital.

Dr Hanoman confirmed reports of a petition signed by staff members calling for her removal, along with a substantive recommendation for the immediate suspension of the matron in order to facilitate an investigation into numerous allegations of insubordination, among other issues.

“At the present time we have a crisis at the hospital,” said Dr Hanoman, since doctors working in the facility have taken a hard-line stance against the matron in question.

He said it is recommended that the matron go an administrative leave with full benefits so as to facilitate a inquiry.

Dr Hanoman was quick to point out that as non executive chairman of the board, he does not have the authority “to send anybody home…those actions rest with the CEO (Chief Executive Officer).”

He was at the time responding to subject Minister Dr. George Norton, who had called for the Board to resolve the internal issue.

According to Dr Hanoman, Hicks has been made aware of the allegations and recommendations against her.

Dr Hanoman stressed that a position was adopted by some that it is in the best interest of the functioning of the hospital that the matron be sent on leave with immediate effect. He conceded that there were factions within the hospital staff supportive of the matron remaining on the job, while others continue to agitate for her immediate removal.

Dr Hanoman said the Board had sought an update from the CEO who in turn informed that the matron has in fact been ignoring official instructions.

It was disclosed too that the previous hospital CEO had also expressed displeasure at the actions of the matron. Dr Hanoman told media operatives the matron was in fact sent home last year and he is unclear as to how she was reinstated.

Further compounding the situation at the hospital is the fact there is currently no board constituted, an acute nursing shortage and a plethora of defective equipment at the nation’s premier healthcare facility.