Elective Surgery at Public Hospitals Cancelled As Nurses Call in Sick.

(Nassau, Bahamas) - According to a press release from the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA), nurses at the three (3) public hospitals, in the country ,namely the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) , Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre (SRC) and the Rand Memorial Hospital (RMH) in Freeport, Grand Bahama, have phoned in and or submitted sick certificates for the 8-4 shift on Monday 8th June 2009.

The PHA said that the were advised that this morning 83 nurses phoned in sick at the PMH; 10 nurses reported sick at the Rand in Freeport, and 37 nurses reported sick at the SRC.

The Release continued:

"We anticipate services in the Accident & Emergency (A & E) Departments in particular will be affected.

"The PHA has decided, as a result of this action, that all elective surgeries will be cancelled until further notice at the Princess Margaret and the Rand Memorial Hospitals. Patients scheduled for surgical procedures should phone their physician or:  the PMH 322 2861 extension 3149 and
the Rand in Freeport, 352 6735 extension 2030 and 2031.

"Additionally, the following three (3) Specialty Clinics at the PMH - Surgical, Medical and Paediatric - will be closed until further notice. The Specialty Clinics in Grand Bahama will remain open.

"Patients should only come to the hospitals for medical emergencies. IF you are not sure whether you have a medical emergency please telephone the following numbers –  3267014, 502 7812 or 919 for patients resident in New Providence and 352 6735 extension 2154 or 352 2689 for persons living in Grand Bahama.

"The PHA would wish to apologise to members of the public for this inconvenience. We wish to assure the public, however, that we will do everything within our resources to provide medical care for those in need."