Termination of matron blown out of proportion – Health Minister

June 19, 2015 | By KNews | Filed Under News, Source

“It was blown out of proportion,” said Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton, of the termination of the service of Director of Nursing Services, Colleen Hicks.

Minister of Health,
Dr George Norton

Word of the termination of Hicks, whose position is recognised as Matron of the Hospital, had sparked protest action among nurses of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on Wednesday. The protest action at the New Market entrance of the hospital continued yesterday.

Hicks’ termination letter was issued by GPHC’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Michael Khan.

Minister Norton confirmed yesterday that he has had discussions with the CEO and is satisfied with the basis for the decision to terminate. According to him, based on his discussions with Khan, Hicks was not fired.

“She was on probation at the end of which the hospital decided to terminate her service, citing gross insubordination, according to Mr Khan,” said Dr. Norton.

Based on a report of Hicks’ insubordination, the Minister is convinced that the logical move would be for her to leave the institution, as she is no longer employed there.

Khan told this publication that a few months ago, Hicks had assumed the contracted position of Director of Nursing Services. Her period of probation, he said, came to an end on Monday, and a move to terminate her was imperative, due to “gross insubordination” on her part.

“I thought she would come around (during the probation period),” said Khan of Hicks.

Hicks, this publication understands, was employed on March 16, 2015. Since her appointment she introduced a new system of relocation of nurses from one area to another. This meant that nurses from critical units such as the Accident and Emergency Department were transferred, thereby leaving behind a skeleton staff.

GPHC’s CEO,
Mr Michael Khan

According to information from GPHC, Hicks was verbally directed to cease such practice since the Board of GPHC had approved the creation of the said department and that all nursing staff within the department falls under the purview of the Head of Department.

“She was also advised that at least if she is going to rotate the staff out of a department, at least she should consult with the Head. However, despite my instruction, she went ahead with her rotations without any consultation,” said Khan in a statement.

“Ms Hicks further continued to deliberately ignore my instruction, thus, in May 2015, I once again wrote her instructing that the transfer of nurses out of the department, particularly the A&E, be put on hold until a meeting is convened to discuss the matter further,” the CEO outlined. He disclosed that Hicks in a formal reply categorically stated, that she would not be carrying out any such instructions.

Consequently, Khan said that he wrote to Hicks informing her that her disregard for his authority was unacceptable and viewed as an act of gross insubordination.

“She was given 48 hours to show cause why disciplinary action should not be taken against her for her deliberate choice to ignore my instructions. Ms Hicks further ignored this request which was inconsistent with regards for authority,” Khan noted.

According to him, “it was decided that given her employment status of being on probationary period, her attitude was inimical to teamwork, cooperation and collaboration for the achievement of GPHC’s goals, hence, a decision was taken to bring an end to her employment at the end of her probationary period,” Khan related.

Nurses protesting outside of the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Khan informed that Hicks had worked with the institution for several years, but left the institution as a Senior Sister. She returned having applied for the position of Director of Nursing Services. With her services being terminated effective June 15, 2015, Assistant Director of Nursing, Ms Noshella Lalckecharan, has been named to act as Director of Nursing Services.
Dr. Norton, since assuming the office of Health Minister last month, indicated that he has always been and will continue to be supportive of the nursing profession. He therefore shared his hope that nurses do not opt to embrace insubordination as they practice the noble profession.

“I hope the nurses are not saying that their nurses’ licenses permit them to be insubordinate,” the Minister cautioned yesterday.

Although Minister Norton seems to have no qualms with the move to not retain Hicks, he did however note that “the CEO should [always] make sure no one’s rights are violated as he executes his duty and [that] due process is adhered to at all times.”

Khan is convinced that his action in the matter was done in a professional manner and therefore was not in violation of anyone’s rights.

Turning his attention to the protesting nurses who have called for his resignation, Khan said that “we are not doing anything against them because they protested during their lunch period, but I still think that it is a violation.” He however noted, that efforts will be made by the administration of the hospital to ascertain whether the protesting activity had any effect on the delivery of health care.

“We got some reports that some of them (nurses) abandoned their ward and we will check on that,” said Khan.

The CEO shared his conviction that proper patient care should not be sacrificed in the quest to retaliate against Hicks’ termination, since there are other courses of action that can be taken.