Nurses pledge to serve with a smile

AT THE Pholosong Hospital in Tsakane, patients welcomed the launch of the “I Serve with a Smile” campaign yesterday.

This in an effort to renew the quality of care at health facilities. The campaign was started to change the attitude of the staff towards patients.

Hospital acting chief executive Dr Ashely Mthunzi said the development came after numerous complaints were raised about services.

“The aim of this campaign is to break any form of hierarchy in the hospital.

“This means a cleaner can inform the doctor if they notice another staff member lacking compassion and empathy,” he said.

Hospital service marshal Yvonne Mashiane said she welcomes everyone with a smile “to give them hope”.

According to Mashiane, the campaign has taught her to respect people’s privacy and treat them with kindness.

“I welcome every patient with a smile regardless of where they come from or how they look like.

“I welcome homeless people the same way I greet every other patient who walks through that door,” Mashiane said.

Patients said different nurses treat them in different ways, with some being pleasant others not accommodative. A frail and elderly patient Sesi Selepo said sometimes nurses ignored them (patients) when they are in distress.

“Our taxis end at 10pm and we sometimes have to sleep at the Hospital to be their first patients in the morning,” Selepo said.

Hospital staff member Thabsile Mkhwanazi said the hospital was looking to galvanise the entire staff component to participate in the campaign.

“I saw a person walking on crutches, struggling, so a nurse helped the patient and this warmed my heart. This campaign has really made a difference,” she said.

“We are still trying to get some staff members to sign the pledge and be a part of the campaign,” she said.

However, not participating in the campaign doesn’t mean wrong doing will not be reported.

The campaign includes a wellness programme for nurses who feel overwhelmed and under pressure, so patients are not the only ones who benefit from the initiative.

“The wellness programme is for the staff to address their problems with professional external psychologists hired specifically for the staff,” Mthunzi said.

He encouraged other public health facilities to adopt a similar model as it will not only benefit staff but the communities they serve.