President of the Trinidad and Tobago Registered Nurses Association (TTRNA) Idi Stuart has called on nursing personnel to join the association for an hour of silent walkabout to protest working conditions at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope on November 7.

In a video posted to social media on November 3, Stuart addressed concerns the association found after visiting the medical institution earlier that day. He also addressed a media release by the North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA) on November 2 which said that it categorically denied claims by the association about chronic staffing issues at the hospital, particularly on November 1.

The NCRHA said on November 1, four wards operated with one registered nurse instead of two due to unexpected absenteeism, but all other wards maintained a satisfactory nurse-to-patient ratio, fully consistent with the authority’s established operational and clinical standards.