The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) has raised concerns about deteriorating working conditions for employees in the public health system.
The concerns come ahead of the release today of a report by Health Ombud Professor Taole Mokoena into the deaths of healthcare professionals at public health facilities in KwaZulu-Natal.
The investigation follows the deaths of medical intern Alulutho Mazwi at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital, Siyabonga Zulu of Ngwelezane Hospital, radiographer Mvelo Cele of Port Shepstone Hospital and Tumelo Kgaladi of Addington Hospital.
The Health Ombud is expected to outline the findings of the investigation and make recommendations on safety and working conditions in the public healthcare sector.
DENOSA provincial chairperson Sibonelo Gumede says the organisation has received numerous complaints relating to working conditions in public health facilities.
Gumede says, “Several complaints have been received when it comes to that, but some of those complaints come in different forms. Some of them come in the form of complaints from patients, but remember that the department has another way of finding out whether there is shortage or no shortage.”
He says complaints and reported incidents should alert the Department of Health to challenges faced by healthcare workers.
“There are procedures where you find the patient has complained and there are committees that are established, or you see the incidents—those incidents need to alert the department on the condition in which the nurses are working,” Gumede adds.
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