Staff at Pembroke Rest Home staff have hit back at claims that residents are receiving sub-standard care.

And they are angry that Pembroke Parish Council members have not spoken out and corrected what they deem to be false claims in a recent Mid-Ocean News article.

A number of staff at the rest home composed a letter to the editor that emphatically denied that clients were receiving sub-standard care because employees are fed up with an insufficient budget and lack of pay.

The reported on November 4 that residents had festering bed sores, a cook that smoked and that staff neglected them.

The source, who remained unnamed in the paper, said it was because of exasperated staff who are fed up with the home?s ongoing financial problems.

In the letter they refuted the claim, saying: ?To say so is an insult to our self-respect, to our choice of profession, to our dedication and to our professionalism. These residents, your loved ones, are indeed our extended family.?

A nurse?s aide, who works at the rest home and wished to remain anonymous, said the article was not a fair reflection of the staff?s behaviour.

?The bed sore that was mentioned was the first one in seven or eight years. The client actually came from the hospital with the bed sore and we did our best to care for the patient.?

The woman also said the family members of the elderly woman with the bed sore had not wanted Shadow Health Minister Louise Jackson to go to the media over it because they did not believe that the staff were being negligent.

The allegations of unhygienic kitchens were also unfounded, the staff said. Currently one of their cooks is on a health and hygiene course to ensure they are up to date on sanitary issues.

The letter composed by the staff claimed blamed the article on disgruntled staff members.

The nurse?s aide did concede that the facility lacked financial resources and said the $300,000 budget was not nearly enough to fulfil the needs of the residents.

?We have a list of items we have needed for a long time and nothing has been done,? she said. ?We need a wheelchair, we need a piece of equipment that would make it easier to get heavier clients into and out of their beds.?

She also said the facility needs a full time administrator and more nurses to care for the residents.

But she balked at claims that money was the reason for the staff?s lacklustre attitude.

She said staff had not received a pay increase in three years. In 2002 they took home $650 after deductions and now they are taking home $450 after deductions, she claimed.

?But we care for our residents and buy toiletries out of our own money because they need them,? she said.

She did agree that staff are fed up with their insurance payments being months in arrears and low, late pay. However, she denied that the residents feel the brunt of the employees? anger.

?I am saddened that the residents are aware of the rift between the council and staff, but we would never mistreat them!? She said.

While the staff were appalled by the article they are furious that no member of the rest home?s council have stepped forward and spoken up for the staff.

The aide said staff approached Council members and asked if any complaints had been lodged regarding the instances of alleged neglect in the paper. They said they were told no.

They told Council members that they felt no one was trying to rectify the negative picture the article painted.

The nurse?s aide said the meeting was not productive.

?We calmly confronted them and they went into politics and the need to stick together,? she said.

?We said ?we can stick together but the question is will you stick with us??.?

The staff felt Council members were not actively looking out for the staff or residents best interest.

Council member Charles Jeffers would not comment on the staff?s statements when contacted last night.