EWN reports that according to the Western Cape Health Department, the dismissal of two nurses from Karl Bremer Hospital over uniforms was a fair and legal process.  

They were dismissed more than a year ago following an on-going dispute over their uniforms.  A small group of nurses picketed outside the provincial legislature on Friday in support of the nurses.  They have attempted to appeal the department's decision by approaching the Labour Department, but this has proven to be unsuccessful.  The provincial health department's Mark van der Heever said the problems began when the nurses refused to stop wearing their gilets while working with patients with open wounds.  “We have held a meeting with them where we requested them not to wear the gilets when they are attending to patients in clinical areas when they are attending to patients with open wounds because it doesn’t form part of their normal dress code.  But still, they still refused to comply with the nurse dress uniform.”  According to Van der Heever, the disciplinary process was fair.

• Read this report by Monique Mortlock in full at EWN

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