The Gibraltar Health Authority is marking International Domestic Workers Day.

A statement from the GHA follows below:

Gibraltar Health Authority is observing International Domestic Workers Day today, a date commemorated annually across hospitals in Europe. 

The work carried out by domestic staff at St Bernard’s Hospital and the Primary Care Centre on a daily basis is hugely important to ensure the smooth running of healthcare services. 

These employees are tasked with the cleaning of medical areas and the prevention of cross contamination in high risk clinical sections – an essential requisite for patient well-being, satisfaction and safety. 

Infection control and prevention procedures include rigorous sanitization protocols to eradicate pathogens, measures which are the first line of defence against healthcare associated infections. 

Among their responsibilities is also the safe handling and disposal of hazardous medical waste. Beyond their primary role, domestic staff also create a welcoming environment of comfort, trust and security for patients and their relatives. 

To mark International Domestic Workers Day, the Ministry for Health and Care, in collaboration with the GHA, has produced a special video celebrating the contribution of all GHA domestic staff. The video is available across the GHA’s social media platforms. 

GHA Director General Paul Bosio said: “The duties discharged by our hard-working and highly efficient domestic staff are vital for the normal and effective functioning of St Bernard’s Hospital and clinical settings in general. I would like to thank them for the brilliant work that they do all year round, as their efforts directly and significantly contribute to the lowering of patient mortality, the high quality of care and to a more positive patient experience in their recovery process back to health.” 

Minister for Health and Care, the Hon Gemma Arias-Vasquez MP, said: “Our domestic staff are an indispensable part of the GHA family. Their work may often take place quietly and behind the scenes, but its importance is visible throughout every area of every GHA facility. 

“On International Domestic Workers Day, I want to express my sincere thanks to every member of our domestic staff, past and present. In the time I have been in Government it has become very clear to me that to deliver good healthcare there must be a collective effort and our domestics are an integral part of that team.”