Members of the Fiji Nursing Association continue to gather at the Associations' Headquarters at McGregor Road in Suva, as hospitals around the country operate with skeletal staff.

About 50 nurses from CWM, Lami, Nabua, Valelevu, Saint Giles Hospital and Twomey Hospital are now at McGregor Road.

When our reporters arrived at CWM Hospital, three senior nurses were based at the Accident and Emergency Unit compared to four during normal shifts.

The nurses still at work are now doing 12 hour shifts compared to the normal eight hour shifts.

It has also been confirmed that they have joined the Accident and Emergency Unit and the Outpatients Unit. 7 nurses are working at the Maternity Unit which is only a third of the total number of nurses who are supposed to be at the unit during the shift.

Doctors are manning the Valelevu Health Centre and are only attending to emergency cases. Other cases are being referred
to the CWM Hospital.

All nurses walked out from the Valelevu Health Centre this morning.

About 38 nurses in Nausori are on strike and only emergency cases are being seen.

At Navua hospital, five nurses are working at the Emergency Department. About 90% of the nurses in Navua hospital are members of the Association and have not started work.

On to the western division,

Over 70 nurses at the Sigatoka Hospital who are members of the Nursing Association are on strike.

Senior Health Officials confirm that only 10 nurses are on duty and they will assess the situation in every shift.

Lautoka Hospital Medical Superitandant, Dr. Eloni Tora says they have been affected by the strike however they are coping with limited staff. He refused to make further comments.

In Ba, the senior health officials are yet to get feedback on the total number of nurses who have walked off last night.

Services at the Ba Mission hospital has been severely affected after the nurses walked off their jobs. The nurses had difficulties in dealing with some complicated cases last night. One nurse from Nailaga Health Center was called in to assist.

In Tavua, 50% of the nurses have gone on strike however non-members are trying to keep the services running.

The Korolevu Health Centre in Sigatoka is now closed after the three nurses that were providing services walked off their jobs this morning.

A caretaker who answered the phone said that all the three nurses who are members of the Fiji Nursing Association did not turn up for their shift this morning.

In the Northern division,

In Taveuni Hospital, 27 nurses are on strike as of this morning. Officals have confirmed that only three nurses are working. A retired nurse has been called to assist the nurses. It has also been confirmed that 2 medical students are also assisting the nurses. Only emergency cases are now been seen at Taveuni hospital.

Some nurses stationed at the Savusavu hospital have also walked off their jobs as of this morning and only 6 nurses are providing services.

At the Seaqaqa Health Centre none of the nurses are on strike and services are normal.

Senior Health officals have confirmed that six nurses are at the Health Centre.

The Labasa hospital is now only attending to emergency cases.

Officials at the Labasa hospital confirm that only 32 nurses are at work today and the nursing strike is severely affecting services.

Some of the nurses who are at work are the members of the Nursing association and they are expected to walk off their jobs later today.

A number of patients are at the Outpatient Ward waiting to be seen.

At the Lakeba Health Centre, 5 nurses have walked off their jobs while only 4 are now on duty.

Police are closely monitoring the nation wide strike by the members of the Fiji Nursing Association.

The National Command Centre base at the Central Police station has also confirmed that they are also keeping a close watch on the FNA headquarters at McGregor road.

The military is now conducting routine checks around the country.

RFMF spokesperson, Major Neumi Leweni confirms that truckloads of soldiers are assessing the law and order situation in the country after the nurses went on strike at midnight last night.

Major Leweni refused to make any further comments.