Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Health workers in fear
Unions speak out as facilities close at two key city hospitals
AS THE provincial health department moves to meet the rising need for testing and the critical skills shortage in response to Covid-19, health workers have again voiced concerns over their safety as the peak infection period is expected to kick in within a few weeks.
Facilities at two of the city’s major hospitals were closed due safety and health concerns this week. The Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital said it would not admit any new patients “temporarily” and had undertaken measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 after some staff tested positive.
Some units at the Tygerberg Hospital were forced to close by the chief inspector of the Department of Labour over safety and health compliance concerns.
Christiaan Barnard general manager Chris Tilney said the hospital and an independent epidemiologist had embarked on a programme to test all staff members, doctors, other healthcare workers as well as employees of contracted service providers working at the hospital.
“We will continue to provide care for patients who are currently in our facility, however the hospital will temporarily not admit new patients. Ambulance service providers have been informed that the hospital is on divert for all emergencies while the emergency department has also temporarily been closed for walk-in patients,” Tilney said. He said tracking and tracing of individuals who had been in contact with hospital staff who tested positive would be conducted by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases. A decontamination process using ultraviolet disinfection robots was under way.
Organised labour has given the Tygerberg Hospital management until Tuesday to present a Covid-19 risk assessment plan. The Health and Other Services Personnel Trade Union of SA, which represents workers in the public and private health-care sectors, said it conducted an investigation at the hospital this week following concerns raised by health workers.
Spokesperson Gerald Lotriet said: “We asked management for a Covid-19 readiness plan specific to the hospital. None was presented to us and we have given them until next Tuesday to do so. We cannot risk the lives of workers and patients.”
This week some units, including the kitchen and main stores, were forced to close.
A worker at the kitchen tested positive for the coronavirus, but Lotriet said the unit was not decontaminated by an approved company and operations continued.Tygerberg Hospital said that four non-clinical areas were cleaned including the kitchen, which resumed operations on Tuesday. The other areas would be reopened once the Department of Labour was satisfied with measures implemented.
“The hospital will be carrying out an additional area risk assessment and will submit the outcomes on June 16,” provincial health spokesperson Mark van der Heever said.
Frontline staff at Tygerberg Hospital have claimed that their colleagues who were in isolation were summoned back to work before the stipulated period, as there was a shortage of nurses.
They also claimed that there was still a shortage of personal protective equipment. “What also bothers us is that those who had been in contact with a Covid-19 positive case are told to continue working until they present symptoms. There have been cases of asymptomatic people who have tested positive. We’re scared that we might bring the virus home,” a nurse said. Other allegations included:
Due to a staff shortage, nurses were required to work in any ward.
Management had access to health workers' test results before they were released to them, violating patient confidentiality.
Health workers being forced to take sick leave if opting to self-isolate after a positive close contact.
Van der Heever responded: “We understand and recognise the anxiety of all health-care workers as we face the unprecedented threat of this global pandemic. Occupational Health and Safety practices were implemented everywhere, ranging from issuing protective equipment to practices (in accordance with risk profiles), implementing measures to protect the families of staff members, to isolating (vulnerable) staff from the hazards where possible.
“The leave issue is a national directive and should be directed to the (Department of Public Service and Administration). Health staff can be redeployed to assist in other areas. This is dependent on their individual risk assessment.”