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Labour unions at Baragwanath Hospital to march tomorrow over rife corruption which has crippled healthcare service at the hospital
Media statement
Sunday, 26 August 2018
Organised labour unions at Christ Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, under the banners of DENOSA, HOSPERSA, NEHAWU, NUPSAW, NPSWU and PSA, will tomorrow march to the hospital (meeting with the HOD, Prof Lukhele) to demand the release of the long-held report of investigation over rife corruption at the hospital, which has crippled healthcare service at the facility to the ground for far too long.
This action follows numerous tea-breaks and lunch-hour pickets at the hospital by workers who have had to render compromised service at the facility to patients as a result of a captured procurement system, including a memorandum of demands which was submitted to the hospital’s Acting CEO on 1 August but has not yet been responded to.
The march, which will start at 08h00 until 16h00, will demand, among other things:
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Acting CEO to step down;
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Corrupt officials to be removed;
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Release of the investigation report;
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Filling of vacant posts; and
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Fair employment opportunities for everyone.
The results of corruption at the hospital have led to what has become sub-standard healthcare at the facility to patients, as service malaise manifests in the following ways:
1) Rampant corruption over employment:
Irregular appointments, interference of the Acting CEO (ACEO) in the employment process to ensure certain officials are employed.
-Selling of jobs by those close to him. His reluctance to establish investigations of the allegations.
2) Intimidation of other senior managers and unilateral decisions within their departments.
For example, Nurse Managers are no longer allowed to have meetings with their director. ACEO has changed the nursing Organogram to exclude the director of nursing.
3) Severe shortage and Misappropriation of staff which compromises the quality of care.
Most of the wards have got ventilated patients without ICU trained nurses. Leading to utilization of sub categories to care for critically ill patients without supervision. (G3, SSW, Trauma WD 01, Burns Adult etc.). There's evidence of Serious adverse events as a result of this and other discrepancies.
-Shortage of Cleaners, theater operators and other health workers- the directly impact on patients' safety, at risk of nosocomial, infections.
4) Lack of capacity in security.
This is evidenced by recent disruptive incidences where external organisations (e.g. BLF) came into the institution, thus endangering patients and staff (where they scattered soiled linen, waste including medical waste).
5) Outstanding payments of staff benefits.
Overtime, translation of salaries post- attainment of additional qualification, Grade progression and many other benefits have not been paid to staff, and there is still no chance of this happening.
6) Gross shortage of staff at Maternity Ward
The facility’s Labour Ward staff is made up of 12 midwives in total which works out to be three midwives per shift in a unit with statistics of +/- 2000 deliveries per month. This equals to unforgivable abuse of staff. Patients delivering without supervision is inevitable.
And, unfortunately, patients die!
Members of the media are cordially invited to the march and report. Details of the march are as follows:
DATE: Monday 27 August 2018
TIME: 08h00 to 16h00
VENUE: From Vuyani Mabaxa Park and proceed to Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital
CONTACT DETAILS: Yandisa Zungula
MOBILE: 079 030 4979
End
Issued by organised labour at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital
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