Hospitals largely unaffected by strike

THE Kwazulu-natal Department of Health has indicated that strike action has not had an impact on the province’s health facilities except for Grey’s Hospital.

On Tuesday evening, the department said it had noted with concern unprotected industrial action by certain individuals at some of its healthcare facilities earlier that day.

The department said the action had minimal impact on the functioning of these hospitals and clinics, except for umgungundlovu District, where services were stalled for a while at Grey’s Hospital.

It said a few facilities were forced to work with a skeleton staff while staff picketed for a limited time.

“The provision of health services at Grey’s Hospital resumed at midday after a blockade of access to the hospital from 5am because of the industrial action,” the department said.

“Services resumed soon after the gates were opened for staff to walk in and report at their workstations.”

The department cautioned the public, including leaders and members of organised labour, against blockading access routes and entrances to clinics and hospitals as this could result in avoidable loss of lives.

The department also said it was relieved there had been no major complications but it would continue to monitor the situation on the ground.

KZN Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane said: “We are making an appeal to the conscience of those who participate in these kinds of gatherings to refrain from blocking access points to our health facilities. People who end up bearing the brunt of these blockages are innocent health-care users who may be really sick and might even die if they don’t get attended to by health professionals.

“We remind all health-care professionals they are classified as essential services, which means they are prohibited from embarking on strike action. We appeal to leaders and members of organised labour to utilise all established channels to engage with the department on any pertinent issue.

“This is the only prudent approach as it will avoid any unintended consequences such as loss of lives.”