Health staff to return to duty
MEMBERS of the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (Denosa) and staff at the Hopetown Community Health Centre have indicated that they will return to duty following a commitment by the Northern Cape Department of Health to appoint four additional nurses at the centre.
Staff at the centre downed tools and operations came to a standstill last week following complaints of being grossly understaffed.
Northern Cape Department of Health spokesperson, Lebogang Mahaja, said that the MEC for Health, Fufe Makatong, had yesterday held a meeting with the union and community to address the issue.
“The visit by the MEC comes after a week subsequent to the interruption of health services by Denosa, relating to the shortage of nurses at the facility. The leadership of Denosa, during the meeting, expressed their commitment towards engaging the department on addressing shortages experienced at the department and on a process plan that will ensure that the facilities in the Province operate at full staff complement. The union committed to ensuring that their members report back on duty,” said Mahaja.
He added that the MEC had promised to give priority to the matter.
“MEC Makatong further urged the community to exercise some patience and allow recruitment processes to be concluded, as prescribed by the legislation. The MEC relayed her commitment to give attention to beefing up clinical and administrative support to health facilities across the Province, as the department has already embarked on the recruitment processes even before the union withdrew their members from delivering health services at Hopetown Community Health Centre. The recruitment process is focused on filling of vacancies that are funded and are within the current financial ability of the department,” Mahaja said.