TimesLIVE reports that the Public Servants Association (PSA) has criticised disciplinary action launched against eight emergency medical services (EMS) employees who refused to transport a Covid-19 patient.  

The employees are based at Grey’s Hospital in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal.  The union claimed that the employees were informed by the night-shift supervisor that a Covid-19 positive patient had to be transported to the hospital by ambulance.  “They then raised serious concerns with the supervisor as there was no personal protective equipment [PPE] supplied.  They also raised concern about the fact that they never received training on handling Covid-19 patients,” the PSA stated.  Allegedly, the supervisor failed to provide the employees with answers or the protective gear required to treat the Covid-19 patient and instead called in a district manager.  The manager arrived and deliberated with employees, but still did not provide the required gear.  Instead, the decision was taken to charge all eight employees for failing to take a lawful instruction.  The KZN health department said this account was untrue and an exaggeration.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kgaugelo Masweneng at TimesLIVE

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