President of the Consultant Physicians Staff Association (CPSA), Dr. Charelle Lockhart spoke with ZNS News recently giving details of outstanding issues the union needs addressed by the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA).

Dr. Lockhart revealed negotiations of their new industrial agreement has stalled.  “Our employer is also trying to change our terms of employment with respect to hours that we’re expected to work.  We’ve asked them to clarify what the existing medical group insurance is, this has not been forthcoming.  We have many members who are awaiting the payment of their gratuity after renewal of their contracts.  There is no other physician that I know at a consultant level that is asked to clock in,” Lockhart said.

The association president also lamented security issues.  She said, “everyone has a job to do and we are all attempting to do it to the best of our ability.  However, our worth to the PHA and our country is not being acknowledged.”

According to Dr. Lockhart the group has obtained a strike certificate that does not have an expiration date.  “We have been more than patient with the delays by both the Ministry of Finance and the PHA.”

The PHA released a statement on October 26th in response to the concerns of the CPSA.  It said,  “PHA is aware of the recent strike vote and notes that trade disputes have been filed twice, with the latest meeting held on Thursday, October 24, 2024, during which CPSA was not in attendance.”

With regard to staff shortages the PHA says, ” PHA leadership had never denied or misrepresented the challenges related to physician, nursing, or allied health professional shortages, a global issue impacting healthcare. To address this, PHA continues proactive recruitment across all disciplines,
with the latest group of nurses arriving in the Bahamas this week. Currently, two  cohorts are enrolled in the PHA Academy, 41 new graduate nurses have been onboarded, and local training and scholarships for postgraduate specialty training are actively offered.”

In the statement the PHA also acknowledged “infrastructure challenges, including issues with air
conditioning,” which it says are being addressed.  The PHA says that it “remains committed to fostering positive change and upholding honesty and transparency in all its operations.”