Nightingales in sweet harmony with Govt

NURSES yesterday pledged not to strike again as Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva has granted almost all their demands after an extensive three-hour discussion.

"The discussion was very successful. The Nurses Union has achieved a major victory. There is no need to resort to trade union action," Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda Thera, Chairman of the Public Services United Nurses Union said.

The new Nurses Council Bill will be presented in Parliament this month. It will be released publicly on May 12, Nurses Day.

Another major proposal agreed by the Minister is the recognition of the three-year nurses training course as a degree course. All nurses training schools will be converted to university faculties.

Several other new proposals were upheld by Minister de Silva. A Deputy Director of Nursing will be appointed soon in line with a demand made by the Nurses Union. Their additional service allowance will be increased along with the uniform allowance.

An independent committee will be appointed to look into the 36-hour week suggestion.

They will hand over their report within one week and the Ministry will respond accordingly. A community health service will also be launched with the active participation of nurses. Salary discrepancies and anomalies in various grades of the nursing service will also be rectified.

The Minister also promised to rectify shortcomings at all nursing schools and hospitals. Equipment will be supplied where necessary. A committee comprising health officials and nurses union representatives will attend to this matter.

The discussion was attended by Ministry Secretary Ranjith Maligaspe and senior officials from the Health Ministry and the Nurses Union.