Union claims department is exploiting NC nurses

their studies and are applying their knowledge in the workplace, but have not been translated to the correct levels in terms of payment.

“They are still being paid as if they have not gone to school to upskill themselves. For instance, enrolled nurses who went through bridging and have qualified as professional nurses, out of their own money, are still being paid the salary of an enrolled nurse. This is especially rife in the primary health care setting. As a result, the Province loses nurses to other provinces, where nurses are translated immediately.

“Nurses have still not been paid bonuses for their hard work and are still disadvantaged in terms of OSD (occupation specific dispensation). They are also still waiting for their grade progression after more than ten years in service. How can they be effective when they are not appreciated,” asked Sak.

Sak also pointed out that the education and training of nurses was of grave concern because, since the start of this year, and despite the shortage of staff, the Province had still not had an intake of students for this year.

“The Province is also experiencing a dire shortage of nurse educators. Students are disturbed with the uncertainty of proper accommodation, food supply and transport arrangements. But we have set a date with the department to engage on these issues and to ensure we will have the intake of students, even if it takes place in June/July this year. With the current severe shortage of nurses, we cannot have a situation where we do not have an intake of students this year.”

He stated that the Province had not opened the new De Aar Hospital because of shortage of staff and “the incompetence of the HR department in terms of recruitment and selection”.

“Nurses are still being underpaid because they are still recognised as level 3, which is a contradiction because level 3 has been phased out with the upgrading of salaries of administrative staff in the public service.”

Sak warned that if the challenges were not looked into with the urgency, the department should “expect to hear the voice of the unhappy nurses”.

“As leadership, we cannot allow the situation to deteriorate to the level that it has.”

Denosa stated further that the building structures of other facilities were putting nurses at a risk of litigations. “For example, at Bankhara Clinic in Kuruman, all patients have to wait outside the facility for help, as the clinic does not have a waiting area, a file room, or a medicine room. The clinic has only two consultation rooms, with no vital signs area, that would allow for privacy.”

He added that most facilities did not have basic equipment like blood pressure machines, thermometers or vaccine fridges, “and yet quality care is expected of our nurses”.

“Denosa calls on the Office of Health Standards Compliance to do some investigations in facilities in the Province as a matter of urgency.”

The Department of Health did not respond to requests for comment.