Nursing Officers warn trade union action

By Kushali Atukorale
Government Nursing Officer’s Association (GNOA) warned the government that it would take trade union action if the government failed to take action against a hospital superintendent causing problems in the hospital.

According to the Chairman of GNOA, Saman Rathnapriya, the Superintendent had caused major problems at the hospital due to his inexperience, “This doctor has graduated from Russia and has been appointed as the superintendent. He does not have prior experience in administration and this has caused a major hassle in the hospital,” he said.

Rathnapriya also said that the doctor had transferred so many nurses and officers of the hospital who had received special training to do normal services, “Some of the nurses were given special training but this doctor has transferred these nurses to normal wards,” he said.

He further said that the doctor had been transferring nurses without conducting disciplinary actions and as a result it had caused a major crisis among patients and the administration in the hospital.

“We have complained to the health ministry but so far we have not received any favorable response from them. If the government does not take any action against the superintendent we will take trade union action in the Batticaloa, Ashroff hospital and in hospitals in Kalmunai,” Rathnapriya said.