Nurses grow restless
Nursing staff in Kwazulu-natal say terms are not being met
DOZENS of community service nurses in the Kwazulu-natal public health sector are allegedly only receiving half their salaries, leaving many disgruntled and affecting staff morale.
They believe the situation is due to an administration bungle.
A KZN Department of Health spokesperson has said they were looking into the complaints. This is after four community service nurses told the Sunday Tribune they were not receiving their full salaries of R18 500 a month and claimed that other colleagues at RK Khan and King Edward VIII hospitals and a clinic in Phoenix were also affected.
The nurses alleged the problem stemmed from administration delays between the KZN Department of Health and the South African Nursing Council (SANC), which is responsible for processing documentation.
The problem has apparently been ongoing since January, despite the nurses signing their contracts, which stipulated that a salary of R18 500 per month be paid to them.
“We could accept if this was a temporary situation over one or two months, but it is now going on six months that we are having to earn less than what our contracts say. When we query the problem, the blame game is played,” said a nurse, who could not be named because he is not authorised to speak to the media.
The Tribune was told that some community service nurses at hospitals were only receiving R10 000, while others at clinics were receiving as little as R4 000.
“When we queried why this was the case, they told us that it’s because our documentation has not yet been processed,” said another nurse.
“This is our documentation that we were made to submit in December, including our degree certificates and ID copies. This is submitted to the SANC so we can be registered.”
He said the department’s HR services would blame SANC and SANC blamed the department’s HR services for not processing their documentation. “We have had no option but to turn to the media for help because we feel that we are not being heard.
“It has become convenient for the department not to pay us our full salaries and pass blame on SANC. Why make us sign contracts with a full salary figure if you are not going to pay that to us?” asked the nurse.
The Sunday Tribune sent an email query to SANC on Thursday, but it had not responded at the time of going to press.
Department of Health spokesperson Ncumisa Mafunda said: “We have such a situation in King Edward. When Comserv Nurses start, they are paid their student salaries until such time as they produce proof of registration with Nursing Council.
“After producing the proof, they are then back-paid from the day they started services. In that regard, they do not lose out. Delays are variously due to nurses themselves who do not start the process on time or as informed slow processes at Nursing Council. We encourage them to apply on time and the process is explained clearly to them.”
Meanwhile, ANA reported that the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital came to a standstill on Thursday after protesting nurses and staff damaged equipment, trashed a theatre, shut down the pharmacy and assaulted a doctor.
They were demanding to be paid overtime and bonuses from the 2015/2016 financial year until the 2017/2018 financial year. This was the second shutdown at the hospital this month.
While DA health spokesperson Jack Bloom slammed the Gauteng health department for its poor handling of the matter, despite the warning signs, the South African Medical Association (Sama) strongly condemned disruption, violence and mayhem perpetrated by protesting staff.
“Hospitals should be places of safety, havens for the ill. There can never be any justification of violence, especially when it impacts the safety and proper treatment of patients,” said Sama chairperson Dr Mzukisi Grootboom.
Sama said while it acknowledged staff may have legitimate complaints and concerns, these should be addressed through discussion and negotiation, rather than compromise the provision of proper health care to those who are most vulnerable. Grootboom called on the Gauteng health department leadership to resolve the matter speedily as frustration with administrative challenges had created the environment for “unacceptable actions”.
The DA said that Gauteng Health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa should have anticipated Thursday’s violence and put in extra security to prevent it happening. “There were signs earlier in the week that violence by disgruntled workers was brewing, which included tyre burning and blocked entrances on Wednesday,” said Bloom.
“The Gauteng health department has handled this whole matter poorly. They need to settle worker grievances speedily and fairly, and also ensure that hospitals are able to provide their service at all times.
Bloom confirmed that talks were under way and that there was a heavy police presence at the hospital following the violence.
Operations are reported to be back to normal at the hospital.