Health Minister insists issues raised by unions relate to staff issues & not patient safety

Questions in Parliament focused on health, with the staffing complement at the hospital a common thread.

The Health Minister insisted the issues being raised by the unions relate to staff issues and not patient safety- something her Opposition counterpart denied.

Health Minister, Gemma Arias-Vasquez said there was a strategy behind every vacancy- they could be kept for Gibraltarians currently studying, ongoing recruitment, or were pending an ongoing review.

GSD Member Roy Clinton asked why the post of GHA Director of Finance had been vacant since 2023.

Opposition spokeswoman Joelle Ladislaus asked whether the policy was reactionary and questioned why then staff shortages was an issue being brought up by the Unions.

She asked how many complaints of inappropriate behaviour from colleagues there'd been by GHA staff, whether addressed at staff members or patients.

Gemma Arias-Vasquez revealed there were 25 and that 19 had been resolved through internal procedures. 6 remain either under review or are in the process of being resolved.

Ms Ladislaus pointed out Union demonstrations showed bullying accusations were not addressed with the Minister saying processes were being reviewed and there were proper procedures and policies for staff to follow.

A review of both collective and individual dispute resolution procedures within the GHA is expected in the summer with the GHA awaiting feedback from Unite on terms and references.  There's also an external review of a procedure as requested by the Union.