Dear Editor,
On Wednesday, April 22 – medication distribution day –the usual number of pensioners and myself appeared at the NIS Office Leonora equipped with our appointment cards, booklets and necessary prescription for our monthly medication which covers a range of ailments, viz, diabetes, high blood pressure, glaucoma, etc.
We were told that the nurse responsible for the distribution was ill and therefore we could not be issued with our respective drugs. The NIS staff on duty stated that they were not able to say where and when our medication would be distributed and therefore we should leave the premises. I did not leave, but stood my ground and requested to see the Manager of the Leonora District Office who informed me that he as well could not say when the medication would be distributed.
I must mention that we are usually issued with a month’s supply on each occasion and were therefore in need of a resupply. The Manager was unable to say if a relief nurse would be sent up from Georgetown to complete the exercise.
I was both shocked and disturbed at this callous and irresponsible treatment of pensioners who by virtue of their contributions to the NIS Scheme over the years should be entitled to prompt receipt of the various drugs. What were we expected to do? I asked myself. Lie down and die?
After further prodding, the Manager decided to call the NIS headquarters to find out if a relief nurse/clerk could be sent up to deal with a situation that never should have occurred. I left the premises with an inconclusive reply from the Manager, eg maybe tomorrow (23rd), maybe Friday (24th), maybe Monday (27th).
This is not good enough. As soon as it was realized the nurse would not have been on duty to carry out the distribution of drugs a request should have been made to Georgetown NIS. (The nurse was ill for three or four days before drugs distribution day and management knew this.)
It appears as if the NIS is falling apart, what with the recent dismissals for fraud and the dishonesty of workers in the Pensions section, and now something like this happens which should never have occurred.
Where are we going NIS? We are the senior citizens of this country and we demand better treatment and consideration.
Chairman, Please note.
Yours faithfully,
Jim Holder
Retired Administrator
Editor’s note
We are sending a copy of this letter to the PRO of NIS, Ms Diane Lewis-Baxter, for any comments she might wish to make.
