Staff resign at New Natalspruit
Overworked staff are resigning at the new Natalspruit Hospital in Vosloorus because of the severe overcrowding of patients.
This is according to Jack Bloom, DA Gauteng shadow MEC for Health, who says that he discovered this on October 6, when he visited the hospital as part of the DA’s campaign to cut hospital queues.
He says that nurses have resigned at the obstetrics department because of a large increase in patients who should normally be treated at local clinics, but don’t trust the care they would receive there.
“I also saw long queues at the urology and ophthalmology departments.
“Patients complained that they had arrived in the early morning but were still not seen by 2pm. They said that the queues were worse than at the old Natalspruit Hospital,” says Bloom.
He says that there is only one urology specialist and two medical officers to handle 80 patients on Mondays and about 70 patients on Thursdays. The Natalspruit urology unit is the only one for patients in the East Rand.
“Ironically, the paperless electronic system that has replaced files is a major cause of delay, because it takes time to register patients on it, and many staff have not yet been trained to use it.
“I hope that the teething problems in the electronic filing system are overcome soon, but the more serious problem is the shortage of staff to deal with the increased patient volume.”
“It’s a vicious circle as staff resignations increase the strain on remaining staff, who are also tempted to work elsewhere.”
Bloom says that he was told that many nurses who left, took up positions at the local government clinics.
“These clinics need to have doctors and extended hours to attract patients who presently bypass them to go to the hospital instead, causing the crowding problem.
“The new hospital is a magnificent facility, but needs proper staffing and management to ensure quality and prompt service for all patients.”
Prince Hamnca, spokesperson for the Gauteng Department of Health, says that the department continuously recruits personnel, in particular specialists, for all its facilities.
“This process is intertwined to support the smooth running of our health facilities across the board.
“Working together with our hospital management and with no exception to the New Natalspruit Hospital, we are actively recruiting personnel and filling all vacant funded posts,” says Hamnca.
He adds that unfortunately, just like any other institution, staff at the New Natalspruit Hospital do render resignations, as an when they get better opportunities elsewhere, and others reach retirement age.
“However, in order to ensure an effective healthcare system, the department continues with its efforts to improve services which among others, include the attraction and retention of skilled workers, availing bursary opportunities, providing adequate incentives, improving working conditions, reducing workloads and ensuring that workers have the necessary tools of trade.” – @CarmenBoksburg
