Hospital staff protest

 By GABRIEL LAHOC

ADMINISTRATION staff of the Angau General Hospital protested yesterday when police officers were called to monitor the changing of the locks to their workplace.

The confrontation was quickly defused by deputy hospital board chairman Sarah Haoda-Todd.

The police were summoned by hospital acting chief executive officer Dr Jim Abrahams to oversee the changing of locks to the administration building following a dispute he had with an administration staff.

The staff was taken by police and charged.

Because he had the keys to the building and was ordered not to enter the hospital premises, staff were unable to enter the building.

Administration staff blocked businessman John Bangkok when he arrived to change the locks.

Haoda-Todd asked the police to leave and talked to the staff.

“Whatever happened was a management matter and after an altercation, it became a police matter,” she said.

“It was not having the keys to the building that the staff were concerned about. I don’t understand why the police were there.

“The presence of police might be perceived as a standoff and it will cause anxiety among the staff, patients and the public.”

Abrahams said patient care at the hospital was paramount and appealed to the staff for them to return to work.

“It’s an internal matter. It’s a suspension and disciplinary issue,” he said.