“We Still Have Bugs”: Betty Wells Staff Refuse to Work as Bed Bug Crisis Persists Despite Deep Cleaning Efforts
Tensions are escalating at the Dr. Betty Wells Urban Polyclinic after healthcare workers reportedly refused to continue working under what they describe as unsafe conditions, claiming that a persistent bed bug infestation remains unresolved despite recent deep cleaning efforts announced by the Ministry of Health. In messages circulating within what appears to be an internal […] The post “We Still Have Bugs”: Betty Wells Staff Refuse to Work as Bed Bug Crisis Persists Despite Deep Cleaning Efforts appeared first on Saint Lucia Daily Post.
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Tensions are escalating at the Dr. Betty Wells Urban Polyclinic after healthcare workers reportedly refused to continue working under what they describe as unsafe conditions, claiming that a persistent bed bug infestation remains unresolved despite recent deep cleaning efforts announced by the Ministry of Health.
In messages circulating within what appears to be an internal staff communication group and obtained by Saint Lucia Daily Post, workers expressed frustration and alarm over the ongoing situation, with one message bluntly stating: “We still have bugs,” while another claimed the issue was actively affecting staff during the night shift.
“The staff said to go outside… sick out,” one forwarded message read, suggesting growing calls among employees for industrial action or a coordinated withdrawal of services. Additional messages indicated that doctors had reportedly consulted supervisors, patients were being reviewed for early discharge, and the clinic was expected to shut down earlier than normal operations.
“Kindly contact your union,” another message urged staff members, signaling that healthcare workers may now be seeking formal representation and guidance on how to proceed.
The latest developments come just days after Health Minister Moses Jn Baptiste publicly addressed the infestation during the government’s pre-cabinet briefing, assuring the public that environmental health officials had intervened and that extensive cleaning and treatment exercises were underway at the facility.
At the time, the Minister said the Ministry of Health had intensified sanitation measures, initiated extermination protocols, and conducted deep cleaning operations aimed at eradicating the infestation following complaints from workers and patients.
However, the emergence of fresh complaints from inside the facility now raises serious questions about the effectiveness of those interventions and whether the infestation has been fully contained.
Sources familiar with the situation told Saint Lucia Daily Post that morale among both medical and support staff has deteriorated significantly, with some workers reportedly unwilling to remain inside affected areas out of concern for their health and wellbeing.
Photographs shared with Saint Lucia Daily Post appear to show small insects embedded within furniture seams inside the facility, further fueling concerns among workers and members of the public.
The Dr. Betty Wells Urban Polyclinic serves as a critical healthcare institution in Castries, and any disruption to services could have major implications for patient care, particularly for vulnerable residents who rely heavily on the facility for medical attention.
Up to publication time, health officials had not publicly responded to the latest claims from staff regarding the continued presence of bed bugs or the reported push for union intervention
The post “We Still Have Bugs”: Betty Wells Staff Refuse to Work as Bed Bug Crisis Persists Despite Deep Cleaning Efforts appeared first on Saint Lucia Daily Post.
