| Legal advice is being sought by Chief Executive Officer of the Georgetown Public Hospital CorporationGPHC’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Michael Khan(GPHC), Michael Khan, to determine the way forward in dealing with the termination of the services of Director of Nursing Services, Matron Collene Hicks.Hicks who assumed the Nursing Director position in March had her services terminated because of “gross insubordination”, according to Khan.While acknowledging that he was in receipt of a letter from the GPSU on Friday to withdraw,Cheap Sports Jerseys, immediately, Hicks’s termination, Khan said that he was only perusing its content by yesterday. “I am reading that letter and I will respond to that letter accordingly,” said Khan as he disclosed plans to this publication to also seek legal advice before any further action is taken.He said that although Hicks’s services was terminated with immediate effect he was not prepared to take action to have her denied access to the office of Director of Nursing Services. “I can’t stop her because I do not want a confrontation,” added the CEO.This publication understands that despite being informed of her termination Hicks has continued to occupy the office of Director of Nursing Services, next door to Khan’s office. With the termination of Hicks services,Cheap Jerseys Store, Assistant Director of Nursing, Sister Noshella Lalckecharan, was asked to act in the position of Director of Nursing Services. It is alleged that several nurses have opted to disregard the acting appointment of Sister Lalckecharan as part of an attempt to retaliate for Hicks’ termination.Last week Monday, Khan said that he attempted to hand over the letter of termination to Hicks in the presence of the GPHC Director of Human Resources. Hicks refused to accept the termination letter and reported for duty the following day as usual.However, on Wednesday Khan issued a memo informing senior staffers at the institution of the decision to terminate Hicks. Hicks however said that she will refuse to recognize Khan’s dismissal memo and had informed this publication that she would be pursuing advice as to whether she should remain on the job.Hicks’ termination also sparked protest action by several nurses who have called for her reinstatement and for Khan’s resignation. The GPSU is also in full support of the nurses’ action and has even promised to take “whatever appropriate actions available” to have Hicks’ termination reversed.“At this stage we are demanding a withdrawal, failing which, there will be serious consequences,” GPSU’s Senior Industrial Relations Officer, Dennis English warned.According to him,Cheap Jerseys, the GPSU has advised Hicks to remain on the job despite efforts by Khan to explain his accusation of Hicks’s “gross insubordination.”“Right now that could only be an allegation. The authority or the procedure to prove innocence or guilt has not been embraced and respected,Cheap Jerseys,” said the GPSU officer who asserted that the CEO is fully aware that there are certain industrial relation procedures that ought to be followed in terms of arriving at any conclusion.“So the claim of gross insubordination, there is no justification or evidence to substantiate that,” asserted English who is adamant that “there is nothing in Hicks’ contract to substantiate the action of the CEO.”Even as he insists that the termination of Hicks is indeed an act “above board” Khan said that he will not act further on the matter until legal advice is forthcoming.Another senior officer of the GPHC, who is supportive of Hicks’ termination, said that the GPSU in its representation tactic has clearly failed to take into consideration the “gross insubordination” reason for the termination.“They are simply not addressing her gross insubordination to the CEO; they are talking about every other thing except that,” said the senior officer.Hicks upon her appointment, according to Khan, introduced a new system of relocation of nurses from one area to another. This meant that nurses from critical units such as the Accident and Emergency Department (A&E) were transferred,Cheap Jerseys, thereby leaving behind a skeleton staff.Khan disclosed that Hicks was verbally directed to cease such practice since the Board of GPHC had approved the creation of the said department and that all members of nursing staff within the A & E fall under the purview of the Head of Department.“She was also advised that if she is going to rotate the staff out of a department at least she should consult with the respective Head. However, despite my instruction she went ahead with her rotations without any consultation,” said Khan in a statement.“Ms Hicks further continued to deliberately ignore my instruction, thus in May 2015 I once again wrote her instructing that the transfer of nurses out of the department, particularly the A&E, be put on hold until a meeting is convened to discuss the matter further,” said the CEO. He disclosed that Hicks in a formal reply categorically stated that she would not be carrying out any such instructions.Consequently, Khan said that he wrote to Hicks informing her that her disregard for his authority was unacceptable and viewed as an act of gross insubordination. “She was given 48 hours to show cause why disciplinary action should not be taken against her for her deliberate choice to ignore my instructions.Ms. Hicks further ignored this request which was inconsistent with regard for authority,” noted Khan. According to him, “it was decided that given her employment status of being on probationary period,Cheap Jerseys From China, her attitude was inimical to teamwork, cooperation and collaboration for the achievement of GPHC’s goals, hence, a decision was taken to bring an end to her employment at the end of her probationary period…” Khan related.Based on the contract Hicks entered with the GPHC, “The person (Hicks) engaged undertakes that he/she will faithfully perform the duties of Director, Nursing Services, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation for the term of his/her engagement, and will act in all respects according to the instructions and directions given to him/her by the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation through the Chief Executive Officer or any other authorised officers.”This clause therefore suggests that failure to adhere to the instructions of the CEO constitutes a breach of the contract on Hicks’ part.Hicks was slated to function in the capacity of Director of Nursing Services for a period of three years. |
