Together Gibraltar have issued a statement regarding the use of external consultants within the GHA and the impact on existing staff following Unite's demonstration earlier this month.

A statement from Together Gibraltar follows below:

Together Gibraltar is calling out the Government for its continued reliance on costly external consultants within the GHA, following the news that a senior nurse leader is costing the taxpayer £750 per day, while GHA workers struggle under unsustainable workloads. 

“The exorbitant fees that continue to be paid to external contractors are a slap in the face to health workers who have endured a cost-of-living pay freeze from 2019 until 2024, and who still face a real-terms pay cut of over 20 percent,” said party leader Nick Calamaro. 

We continue to receive reports of workers spread far too thin, including reports that just two staff nurses are regularly left managing wards of 20-plus patients. 

Attending this month’s Unite demonstration made clear the depth of staff concern for their own, and patients’, well-being. Gibraltar needs to move away from short-term fixes and invest in sustainable workforce development. If there are gaps in our services, they must be filled by permanent hires with proper performance management, not outside consultants. 

A self-reliant health system that nurtures local talent and delivers quality care is within our grasp if we choose to build it. 

Together Gibraltar will continue to support Unite and our public sector workers. We stand ready to work with government to help craft a viable plan that secures both fiscal responsibility and the future of compassionate care in Gibraltar.