RHAs to get Patient Care Assistants

Two thousand Patient Care Assistants (PCAs) will be contracted to work at health facilities in the Regional Health Authorities (RHAs) in response to the nursing shortage in TT.

Health Minister John Rahael yesterday said four groups of 500 PCAs are to be trained and they will be hired on six-month contracts. He said there is a deficit of more than 1,000 registered nurses. Speaking at the launch of the programme at the Rooftop Restaurant, Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope, Rahael said the programme will not only provide employment, but is an opportunity for participants to gain valuable experience under the supervision of health care professionals. It will also provide them with attitudes and skills for them to be more successful in the job market in the future. Rahael said the PCAs will provide non-technical duties and “free” nurses to provide care to clients and their families.

In addition to hiring PCAs, he said the Ministry has increased the number of nurses being trained annually to 300 by January 2004. Approximately 200 trained nurses have been prepared by COSTAATT and will be available for employment by the RHAs. Rahael said improvements are being made in the teaching/learning environment for staff and students of the Basic Nursing Education Programme at San Fernando. The Ministry of Health will soon be moving the School of Nursing to a newly refurbished section of Palms Club, San Fernando. The Health Minister admonished participants in the programme to let the watchwords of the nation — Discipline, Production and Tole-rance — be their guide. Rahael said PCAs will be required to work under supervision and they will interact with individuals from families and communities with a variety of needs. He advised them to treat both supervisor and client with respect and dignity.