Mt Hope hospital struggles despite new nurses amid ongoing sickout crisis

Staff shortages persist at Mt Hope hospital despite new nurse recruitment

The North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA) has begun onboarding new nurses at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope, as efforts continue to ease pressure caused by an ongoing sick-out among healthcare staff.

Approximately 50 nurses started orientation this week, but sources within the hospital say the additional personnel have not been enough to resolve staffing shortages. Several wards remain understaffed due to continued absences, forcing administrators to shift patients between units to manage the strain.

The situation has placed increased pressure on remaining staff, particularly junior doctors. Medical interns have reportedly been required to work extended shifts—some lasting up to 24 hours—to maintain essential services.

Healthcare workers indicated that both registered nurses and enrolled nursing assistants have been participating in the sick-out, significantly reducing available manpower. The impact has also been felt in the Accident and Emergency Department, where some patients have faced delays in being admitted to wards.

President of the Trinidad and Tobago National Nurses Association, Idi Stuart, said the recruitment drive falls short of what is needed to address longstanding vacancies within the system, noting that the current intake does little to stabilise operations.

Meanwhile, there are unconfirmed reports that legal measures may be considered to compel nurses to return to work. However, former health minister Dr Fuad Khan cautioned against such action, warning it could escalate tensions and further disrupt healthcare delivery. He instead called for dialogue between stakeholders to resolve the dispute.

Although there have been slight improvements since the weekend, patients and their relatives continue to report overcrowding and long waiting times. Some have begun exploring transfers to other facilities as uncertainty remains over how quickly normal operations can be restored.

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