THE Ministry of Health is reporting that with up to 50 per cent of nurses reporting for work at some hospitals the health sector has been badly affected forcing the cancellation of elective surgeries while medical staff at some facilities are only dealing with emergency cases.

The shortage of nurses have affected operations of at least five medical institutions as registered nurses have been reporting absent for the third straight day in protest over the Government’s failure to honour the conditions of a Memorandum of Understanding.

In a release to the media the ministry urged members of the public to be patient as they grapple with the crisis created by the absence of nurses at health facilities islandwide.

“The affected health facilities include: Kingston Public, Lionel Town, Mandeville, Port Maria, St Ann’s Bay, Annotto Bay and Savanna-La-Mar hospitals,” it said.

“Port Maria, Mandeville and Lionel Town Hospitals have reported more than 50 per cent shortage of nurses; Kingston Public Hospital recorded a 34 per cent shortage; St Ann’s Bay Hospital 40 per cent; Annotto Bay Hospital 43 per cent and Savanna-La-Mar Hospital 33 per cent,” continued the release.

Attorneys representing the Ministry of Labour have, in the meantime, been seeking an injunction in the Supreme Court to prevent the nurses from taking further action.

The Nurses Association of Jamaica has, since Monday, denied that its members were taking any protest action.

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