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ANA reports that Solidarity on Friday expressed its concern about the current shortage of nursing staff and the detrimental results of this critical shortage for South African health care.
The trade union indicated that according to payment and staff administration system Persal, the ratio of nursing staff to the population who visited the public health sector was one nurse for every 401 people. "These statistics clearly indicate that nursing as a profession is in danger in South Africa, but the impact thereof on good health care for millions of South Africans is inconceivable," said Hennie Bierman, Head of Occupational Guilds at Solidarity. He also indicated that the delivery of qualified nursing staff in all nursing categories had decreased by almost 40% since 2013. Bierman said that heavy workloads, long hours, challenging circumstances in the workplace, the lack of support, as well as insufficient funds and equipment were contributing factors, among others, to the shortage of nursing staff. He warned that the new government guidelines regarding early retirement would create even more problems for the nursing profession. Bierman argued that intensive planning and preparation for the future must be done to alleviate the pressure and stress of current nursing practitioners and to develop the profession to world-class status.
- Read the full original of Thembelihle Mkhonza’s report on this story at Independent News
- Read Solidarity’s press statement on this matter at Solidarity News
- See too, No respite for staff shortages in Gauteng health facilities, on page 6 of Sowetan of 3 April 2019
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