I have observed that the nurses are unmoved in their demand for increased emoluments. However, I do not believe that they, as a body, deserve any such increase - certainly not across the board. In fact, I am enraged at the lack of care and professional services meted out to the Jamaican public by some nurses in our public-health facilities.

Unfortunately, in their case, 'the good suffereth for the bad', as it does not take more than 'one bad apple to spoil a whole bunch'. Is this not a scientific fact? I do, however, acknowledge that we have some Nightingales who exemplify the profession with their sterling contribution. Those who go above and beyond the call of duty even when not at work, and these include my sister-in-law and the mother of my brother - outstanding nurses!

Now, when a mother carries her baby for nine months and then these inefficient nurses take control by not giving the facts to the mother so she can make an informed decision, and then that baby dies, then trust me, someone should pay. This is the current situation with my girlfriend. Informal checks have revealed that several babies have died within one month at a leading health-care facility due to the lack of one thing or the other. This is just one current case that has hit close to home. We will lobby for change.

Front-line caregivers

We acknowledge that the nurses are the front-line caregivers. They seem to have more gall and gumption, if not clout, than our doctors. Please let a bureaucrat like the Nurses' Association of Jamaica president just put her mouth on pause and train her members in proper patient care and overall customer service. This is sadly lacking in your profession.

I am, etc.,

Natalie F. Boreland