‘No lunches for staff at the hospital’

HLATIKHULU – Health workers at the Hlatikhulu Government Hospital do not take lunches.

This was said by the hospital’s Senior Matron Liberty Thwala.

Thwala shared that the staff is constantly reminded to skip lunch when there are clients (patients) in the hospital.

The staff includes medical doctors and paramedics, nurses as well as those on administrative duty.

He said, however, this was not by force but it was a resolution that the hospital staff made some time ago in one of their meetings.

Thwala said even in the last meeting, the issue of duty hours was raised and the staff was reminded about the resolution and they have still not changed it.

Thwala said there are three shifts at the hospital with eight hours each, being the morning, evening and night shifts.

He said the morning shift starts at 7:30 am.

Skips

He said it was this shift that skips the lunch.

This then means that they knock off at 3:30pm.

However, Thwala said, this does not apply to the Out Patient Department (OPD).

He said their time of duty was from 8am.

Thwala said the OPD closes at 4pm. However, the casualty accepts anyone after that as it operates for 24 hours.

When asked further as to whether it means that the worker must not eat at all for the duration of the shift, he said that they have agreed as members of the staff to find time when they can to take a bite.

Adamant

However he was adamant that there is no eating in front of the patients. He said there was not even tea time.

Thwala said this was because they prioritise the patients so that they can get through the queues as quickly as possible for them to go home or return where they come from early.