Ebola update: Newly-qualified and inexperienced staff recruited for Ebola care and 'threatened with the sack' if they refused
Saturday, October 11, 2014 @ 6:08 PM
INEXPERIENCED and newly-qualified nurses were recruited for dealing with Ebola patients and threatened with the loss of their career if they refused, reports a regional healthcare personnel board.
The Madrid Area North Healthcare Workers' Board, which covers the La Paz University Hospital – upon which the Carlos III depends – says it was given 'orders' to draft in brand-new professionals straight out of college on the nurses' jobseekers' register.
And existing nurses were to be threatened with disciplinary proceedings or sacking if they refused to carry out care duties for Ebola patients, even if they insisted they did not have the knowledge or experience necessary.
It is not clear whether these orders came from the regional, or the national, ministry of health.
Newly-qualified doctors and nurses, among other professionals such as teachers, are entered on registers with a 'points' system and, when jobs arise – permanent or temporary – are contacted in order of those with the highest points first.
If they refuse to take up the post, they are normally removed permanently from the list, effectively ending their chances of working in the profession – a potentially difficult situation if they are forced to give up a permanent job in another field to fill in for sick leave for a few weeks halfway across the country at a day's notice.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com