Director of Nursing Services at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) Collene Hicks is back on the job bringing an end to a months-long feud with the administration of the medical institution.
Minister of Public Health Dr George Norton told Stabroek News yesterday that acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GPHC Allan Johnson and himself recently met with Hicks and union officials and it was established that certain procedures might not have been followed in her case.
“There were a series of factors,” the minister said but he added that certain assurances were asked for and “we are looking forward to it.”
“None of us are above the law, you make a mistake you must be man enough to correct it,” the minister said. Hicks has since been reinstated.
In June this year, the hospital’s administration had served Hicks with a termination letter which she said was in breach of her terms of employment. The woman stood her ground and refused to vacate her office, resulting in the locks to the office being changed. Nevertheless, Hicks continued to report for duty though there is someone else performing her duties. She has said that she has not been paid since March.
Then CEO Michael Khan had said that Hicks was terminated after the end of her probationary period but the woman had maintained that her contract made no provision for such. Khan has since been send on leave on unrelated matters.
Meantime, the minister yesterday said that he wants to improve the situation at the GPHC, particularly at the Accident & Emergency department. “If persons are stymieing that process, then actions would be taken,” he said while adding that work would be done with nurses and doctors and measures would be put in place to ensure that the process is not hindered.
Among the issues to be addressed is the amount of time persons have to wait when they visit the emergency department. Norton said that there is a system that has been in place and checks and balances will be kept.
“It is not an easy job,” Norton said of his job as a minister. He pointed out that it is not only about administration but there is also the political aspect and persons who would have voted for the government want to see and hear from officials. Persons, he said, do not want to hear that a minister is in a meeting or that a minister is not answering his or her phone.
“But sometimes you are in a meeting and you just can’t see someone or answer you phone,” he said.
