THE newly introduced 12-hour shift for nurses will be worked over three days a week, allowing them to complete 36 hours while still receiving full pay.
This was clarified by Assistant Minister for Health Penioni Ravunawa who described the move, implemented from April 27, as a temporary response to staffing shortage at the CWM Hospital.
Mr Ravunawa acknowledged that the arrangement has drawn mounting public criticism, and confirmed the arrangement is strictly temporary and would be reviewed in September when a new batch of 345 nursing interns are expected to complete their training and enter the workforce.
He said the schedule allowed enough time for recovery between shifts, ensuring nurses could return to duty rested and able to care for patients.
“They have enough time to rest, and to be with their families.
“To re-energise and then go back to see their patients.”
He said the longer shifts did not increase overall workload.
Mr Ravunawa highlighted the challenges in addressing staffing levels saying the training of nurses cannot be rushed.
“To train nurses is not easy. It takes three to five years to be able to get nurses to be able to work on their own.”
Mr Ravunawa said the shift system was a temporary measure to ensure services continued while staffing levels were strengthened.
