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The Trinidad and Tobago National Nursing Association (TTNNA) on Tuesday claimed it was “penalised” for raising concerns over staff shortages and has questioned whether Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar was aware of the situation.

TTNNA president Idi Stuart said the Association, which also lobbies for housing for members, has been told by the Minister of Housing (David Lee) that it will not be engaged going forward. Stuart was speaking on TV6’s Morning Edition programme.

He said the Association recently aired concerns over shortages of nursing personnel in the public health system and especially the North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA), including through a silent demonstration by some nursing personnel at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC) last week. He said the Association has estimated a shortage of around 3,000 nursing personnel in the health system and warned that the continued increase of patient to nurse ratio would have negative consequences for the public.