Officials look into health staff ’s attitudes

THE provincial health department has admitted that staff attitudes remain a major problem, and while they cannot set deadlines, they are working on addressing them.

Health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo was responding to questions after the Daily Dispatch received a number of complaints from members of the public about various facilities.

Some of the complaints include an HIV-positive patient who said she had to try for three days to have her antiretroviral (ARV) medication refilled at Petros Jobane clinic in Cambridge location.

She alleged nurses told her it did not matter if her medication had run out because in terms of protocol, pregnant women were attended to first.

Another patient complained about being treated “inhumanely and without urgency” by nurses at Frere Hospital’s emergency section.

She also highlighted the amount of time patients had to wait before being helped.

Kupelo said all complaints were investigated and disciplinary action suited to the nature of the offence carried out.

He also said measures were taken to address attitude problems, with some people being asked to perform tasks.

“Balancing staff attitudes and public attitudes is a challenge. Sometimes the public grossly exaggerates their situations,” Kupelo said.

“There are incidents where staff are rude to patients and that’s totally unacceptable. But there are others where the public undermines the system … so it’s not only internal – even external factors are contributors to attitudes.”

However, Kupelo encouraged patients to voice their unhappiness.

He said patients should use the toll-free number: 0800-03-2364 or make use of suggestion or complaint boxes at hospitals.

Patients can also go directly to the offices of the administrators, call the South African Nursing Council as well as the Health Professions Council of South Africa as all this is within the patient’s rights. — vuyiswav@dispatch.co.za