HEALTHCARE WORKERS ARE RESIGNING IN RECORD NUMBERS
In the first half of 2021 alone, 1,500 healthcare workers called it quits. For context, approximately 2,000 healthcare workers resigned each year in the preceding years. When Dr Janil Putucheary shared this sobering statistic in Parliament last November, he also shared the contents of messages he received from healthcare workers:
“We are getting increasingly stretched, overworked and fatigued… We are uncertain how long we can keep this up. Morale is slipping”
“Our people are exhausted physically, mentally, emotionally – whether they will admit it or not.”
If the Ministry of Health (“MOH“) was hoping to turn the corner this year, at least in respect of the resignation rates of healthcare workers, it should not hold its breath. At the rate things are going, this year’s numbers may be worse than 2021.
SPEAKING UP ON SOCIAL MEDIA
If the Ministry of Health wishes to have an honest and unfiltered view of the reality that nurses and doctors face everyday, it should follow sgnightingales, updatemeprn, and thehonesthealthcareworker on Instagram. These are the pages that are run by healthcare workers for healthcare workers.
These pages have no ulterior motives or agendas, they simply wish for better welfare and dignity for fellow members of their honourable profession. Amongst these pages, sgnightingales has the largest following, and they also receive many confessions and tip-offs from other healthcare workers which may be found in their Instagram story highlights titled “Reality” and “Mental Health” In the past year, through our own interactions with these pages, we have learned so much about the plight of healthcare workers. Wherever possible, we help to spotlight their troubles and amplify their voices. If you can, you should too.
This image above is one example of how effective and trusted these pages are. In this particular story, a nurse explained how, in her department, one of the indicators for performance bonuses and salary increments above is the number of MCs taken. This issue, which first surfaced via these pages, was eventually addressed in Parliament when Dr Janil Putucheary noted that these were “isolated” incidents and stated that such practices have ceased.
If MOH is serious about understanding the issues on the ground, there is no better place to start than these pages. While they’re at it, they should also reflect on why thousands of healthcare workers choose to confide in an Instagram page instead of turning to the hospital management.
PROPOSED LEAVE RESTRICTIONS ANGER HEALTHCARE WORKERS
2 days ago, MOH’s Director of Medical Services Dr Kenneth Mak hinted at the potential imposition of leave restrictions for healthcare workers. He noted that “the hospitals may have to review and adjust leave policies” if healthcare resources are overwhelmed.
WUSG understands that various hospital departments already have internal leave restrictions already in place, and applications for leave are dealt with strictly. For example, in certain departments, one cannot take more than 7 days of leave in a row.
Nurses who spoke to Wake Up Singapore, on the condition of anonymity, shared that cancelled leaves were not uncommon as they are supposed to be on “standby” and may be called upon to come back to work anytime. As a result, they refrain from making plans even when they are on leave. The nurses also shared that even though VTLs are open, and MOH lifted overseas leave restrictions for healthcare workers in October 2021, they still cannot travel without the approval of senior management.
Overwhelming healthcare workers, because healthcare resources are overwhelmed, doesn’t sound like the brightest idea, but what do plebeians like us know?
As thehonesthealthcareworker‘s Instagram caption suggests, nurses took umbrage at this proposal. Their post attracted 30 comments, all of which opposed the proposed leave restrictions. Some nurses even announced that this would be the straw that breaks the camel backs.
On r/Singapore, news of the proposed restrictions attracted more than 100 comments. Again, all of them expressed solidarity and concern for the healthcare workers while condemning MOH. We feature a selection of reactions below.
AN OPEN LETTER FROM THE HONEST HEALTHCARE WORKER
Amongst the various reactions, one that garnered a lot of traction was an open letter penned by TheHonestHealthcareWorker. It was a letter that was heartfelt and poignant.
In the letter, the page implored Dr Mak from imposing leave restrictions and argued that doing so would set a “terrible precedent“. Never known for mincing their words, the Instagram page also asked Dr Mak to take action before more healthcare workers throw in the towel. The letter is reproduced in full below:
Dear Dr Kenneth Mak,
I work up in the wards. If I may, I would like to ask you to respectfully reconsider your plan to impose fresh leave restrictions on us.
We appreciate the SGD 4,000 but, more than anything, we just want time to rest, recharge and spend time with our families. You’ve been told that we have had enough time to clear leave in the last few months as Delta eased. That’s not true. All the elective surgeries that were deferred have returned. Singaporeans got more sedentary and sicker from being isolated. We’ve been working as hard as we did back in 2021.
Take more leave you say? How can we? We can’t take more than 7 days of leave in a row. My colleagues had to fight for their marriage leave last month. 7 days is barely enough for our dear Malaysian colleagues to spend time with their families.
I understand the hard position that you are in, but I implore you: if you countinue, you are setting a terrible precedent.
What if other waves come after Omicron? Will leave restrictions be imposed again? There is only so much healthcare workers can endure, no matter how altruistic we may be.
I urge you to look for a deeper solution, though it may come at a cost to the government. We cannot continue endlessly working each time a new wave springs up. The best farmers know that even the most ferite ground needs to fallow after a few harvests. Without a time to fallow, it soon turns arid, never to produce crop again.
I fear that our world-class healthcare system will go this way soon.
I hope this will reach you before too many of my colleagues leave. You have the authority and opportunity to turn things around. It’s in your hands now.
We sincerely hope that the pleas of these nurses do not fall on deaf ears. MOH must refrain from imposing further leave restrictions. An overburdened system will not be fixed through the imposition of further burdens.
If MOH is going to impose leave restrictions anyway, it should not pretend to be surprised when more healthcare workers decide that enough is enough, and walk away.
If you are healthcare worker and you wish to share your views or experiences, get in touch with us via admin@wakeup.sg
Since you have made it to the end of the article, follow Wake Up Singapore on Telegram!
