Untrained nurses are deployed in Intensive Care Units of Neville Fernando and Kothalawala Defense Hospitals Public Service United Nurses Association Ven. Murutthettuwe Ananda thero has alleged. Ven Ananda Thero made this allegation while in a discussion had with the Prime Minister yesterday (10). Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi has accepted the allegation made by Ven Ananda that untrained nurses are being used in the Intensive Care Unit of the Kotelawala Defense University and the Neville Fernando Hospital.
During a discussion with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees yesterday (09), the Minister of Health had responded to this allegation by pointing out that this situation has arisen due to the shortage of nurses as they are recruited for training per year is less than 2000. The Prime Minister also instructed to add the unskilled nurses currently working in these units to the training period.
During the discussion, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa instructed Health Minister to re-employ retired nurses on a contract basis as required.
The discussion was held at the request of the President of the Public Service United Nurses Association, the Chief Prelate of the Western Province, Ven. Muruththetuwe Ananda Thero in order to seek solutions for long-standing problems of the nurses is suffering.
About 34,000 nurses are currently employed island-wide and the purpose of this meeting was to discuss short-term and long-term solutions and suggestions to the problems they are currently facing.
In addition, the Prime Minister instructed the Ministry to introduce short-term training programs for the Intensive Care Unit. Secretary to the Ministry of Health DR. S.H Munasinghe said that 840 nurses have already been given short-term training in intensive care units and an accelerated training program will be implemented for nearly 1,000 more.
The Prime Minister instructed the Minister of Health to re-employ retired nurses on a contract basis as required and inquired about the current status of the work of extending the tenure of nurses.
SH Munasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Health revealed that the Cabinet Memorandum to extend the tenure of nurses to 63 years has been submitted to the Cabinet for approval.
