Staff shortages, issues at hospitals to be addressed

Frere, Cecilia Makiwane CEOs to report back on organograms

TODAY the chief executive officers of both Frere and Cecilia Makiwane hospitals will meet with workers regarding the organograms of both health institutions.

Unfilled posts and salary discrepancies have been a burning issue for some time.

Frere Hospital CEO Rolene Wagner and Cecilia Makiwane CEO Mthandeki Xhamlashe are expected to meet with the workers of both hospitals and provide a way forward.

Regional secretary of the South African Liberated Public Sector Workers Union (Sapsu) Luyanda Ragu said the stalling by management of both hospitals in effecting the organogram was delaying the provision of a better health care system to the public.

“The organogram was presented to the employees, we expressed our satisfaction and have seen it will address the major issues that include staff shortages,” he said.

In 2013, Frere Hospital was declared a tertiary hospital that would provide health care from specialists for patients who had been referred to the hospital from clinics and other hospitals. Ragu said the hospital immediately underwent a job evaluation process that would increase the salary scales of the workers in the hospitals.

“Last month we had a meeting with [ Wagner] and were told it [evaluation report] would be released in a week’s time but we haven’t seen it yet,” he said.

Today’s meeting will be attended by Cosatu former general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, who said: “We are not far from shaking this tree and they must be aware that once a tree is shaken some of its fruits will fall off.”

The South African Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR) last year said 56% of doctors’ posts in the public sector were vacant, as were 46% of nurses’ posts. It reported that the Eastern Cape needed another 16 683 nurses.

Vavi said: “. . . lack of time off, relief staff and longer hours would be addressed by the organogram that would put the hospital a step closer to providing quality health care”.