The Region Ten Regional Democratic Council (RDC) has called on the Chief Executive Officer of the Linden Hospital Complex Rudolph Small to immediately resign over disparaging statements he reportedly made about the facility’s nurses.
In a letter, which was shared with the press yesterday by the RDC, was signed by the Regional Chairman Deron Adams and most of the other councillors in what was described as a show of support for the region’s frontline workers and women working at the hospital.
In its letter, which was sent to Small on Thursday, the RDC said it viewed his statements as “distasteful, disrespectful, and totally untenable.”
“These statements have also put hardworking and committed staff at risk of domestic confrontations and discord within their home settings…,” it noted, while also pointing out that in a subsequent interaction with the nurses Small did not seek to apologise but instead sought to excuse the fact that what was stated was released to the public.
“We view these disparaging remarks as having irreparably damaged the trust necessary between the staff and administration of this institution and call on you to resign immediately as Chief Executive Officer of the Linden Hospital Complex. Failing this, we call on the Hon. Minister of Health who is copied on this missive to terminate the contract of the C.E.O. of the Linden Hospital Complex immediately,” the letter concluded.
On Friday, the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) wrote Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony requesting the removal of Small after he was reported as saying that the nurses regularly abandoned their duties to engage in extramarital affairs.
Small had been reported as telling an online media house that nurses at the hospital sign in for their shifts and then leave to visit their “Sweet Man.”
The GPSU said the allegations that the nurses were engaging in extramarital affairs are scandalous and expose the officer, his office and agency to litigation.
“His irresponsible conduct is likely to cause serious disruptions in families associated with healthcare workers nationwide and increase domestic violence,” it further said.
A video of a meeting between the CEO and nursing staff, which was seen by this newspaper, saw him declare that it was never his intention to besmirch the character of any nurse. “I am ashamed of how the article was written and how it sought to portray my nurses [as it is] not a true reflection of how I see the nursing staff of Linden Hospital,” Small read to a chorus of disbelief.
Small sought to deflect blame onto the reporter who conducted the interview, claiming that his words were said in jest and misconstrued for a sensationalism and social media clicks. He, however, said that he would accept full responsibility for the words the “purported journalist” attributed to him because he was part of the conversation and asked that the nurses look not at his words but at his actions moving forward.
The nurses, however, were not satisfied. “It shows what was in your heart,” one nurse is heard saying, while another added that she cannot accept the apology as the words have already caused problems in her home.
