Hospitals instructed to safely transport nurses after their shifts

All hospitals in Fiji have been instructed to take immediate measures to ensure that all nursing staff are transported safely to their homes at the end of their shifts.

This has been confirmed by the Permanent Secretary for Health and Medical Services Philip Davies.

Following concerns raised during the Attorney‑General's nationwide road shows with civil servants, the Minister for Health and Medical Services Rosy Akbar, held meetings with CWM Hospital senior management to discuss issues relating to nurse transportation.

Akbar says they were deeply disturbed to learn that some nurses were routinely being dropped off far from their homes when they completed their shifts late at night and were being left to find their own way home.

She says this is unacceptable and presented a serious threat to the nurses' safety.

Akbar says she has taken these concerns to the CWM Hospital management and they have confirmed that this was not authorised by senior management and is not in line with the Ministry’s policy.

The Health Minister has instructed CWM and all other hospitals in Fiji to present alternative approaches to transport nurses safely to their homes, including the use of additional vehicles or the provision of subsidies for taxi fares.

Akbar has assured nurses that this situation will be remedied as a matter of urgency and apologised to the nurses as their safety was being compromised as a result of this issue.