BVI – Peebles Hospital Has Difficulties In Recruiting Nurses

“We are still short of nurses,” Chairman of the BVI Health Services Authority, the Most Reverend Bishop John Cline said as he announced that even trained Virgin Islanders are reluctant to return to the BVI and do nursing at Peebles Hospital.
During his appearance on the Speak Out BVI radio program on 17 November, Reverend Cline announced: “When we try to attract nurses they know the package we are offering. We find it very difficult to attract even the nurses that were trained by Government to come back.”
The BVIHSA Chairman explained that the Territory’s offering of $35,000 is usually not appealing to the nurses who are away making as much as $80,000.
Earlier this year Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon. Ronnie Skelton during the NDP radio program on 19 January made a plea for Virgin Islanders who are away to return to the Territory and give their service at the Peebles Hospital.
The Minister’s plea was in response to calls from residents who said that they would like to see more Virgin Islanders employed at the hospital: “We are trying to encourage our nurses who are overseas to come home. I know sometimes when they come there are difficulties, but we encourage doctors, nurses. We have people out there studying to take up some key positions. I know there will be problems and there will be concerns, but I am willing to address these concerns,” Minister Skelton stated.