Question NW2244 to the Minister of Health
19 June 2023 - NW2244
Thembekwayo, Dr S to ask the Minister of Health
Whether he has been informed that more than 100 nurses were offered employment at the Jubilee District Hospital during the recent cholera outbreak and that after working for 12 hours they were asked to go home since there was no more work for them, yet the specified hospital is short-staffed; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details of the steps he will take to intervene in the matter?
Reply:
The Minister was not informed about the 100 nurses who were offered employment at the Jubilee District Hospital during the recent cholera outbreak.
According to the Gauteng Provincial Department of Health, a group of 137 Nurses presented at the Hospital on the 22nd of May 2023. It is not clear who had made arrangements for the group to come to the hospital as there was no formal arrangement for them to come to the facility.
The group presented themselves to the Assistant Manager Nursing indicating that they have been instructions to report for duty. The Assistant Manager Nursing, without first verifying the status of the said nurses, allocated them to the wards where 41 of them commenced duties immediately. When the matter was brought to the CEO's attention some hours later the same day, the CEO immediately rescinded the allocation as the presence of the nurses at the facility could not be accounted for.
This matter is currently being investigated by the district. Once the investigations are finalized, details shall be provided, and the recommendations will provide the possible way forward.
END.