Three nurses awol when MEC Ramokgopa visits Tembisa Hospital unannounced
The newly upgraded casualty area and the level of cleanliness in Tembisa Hospital impressed Gauteng MEC for Health‚ Dr Gwen Ramokgopa‚ during an unannounced visit on Sunday — but she was not impressed by the nursing staff.
“Absenteeism is one of the major risks for quality patient care. There were three nurses who just did not come to work‚ with only one of them citing domestic challenges and the rest not reachable.”
The MEC said she would follow up on staff absenteeism.
Her office said the visit‚ at around 7am‚ was aimed at assessing the state of services‚ experience of patients‚ staff concerns and the responsiveness of management.
Tembisa hospital is undergoing the initial phases as a tertiary hospital linked to Steve Biko Academic as a Central Hospital.
Fear of repeat of Life Esidimeni tragedy
The MEC interacted with family members‚ some of whom expressed concern over the contribution of alcohol abuse in the high levels of violence and trauma which resulted in inconvenience to them and a high patient load in Casualty Services.
“The trauma unit was indeed like a war zone mainly from stab wounds‚ gun shots and motor accidents‚” her office said.
Overall the patients in Casualty‚ Maternity and Paediatrics wards visited were happy with the care received‚ it added.
The MEC intends to follow up on:
- Fast tracking the appointment of critical medical and nursing staff
- Profiling the overhauling of the health system and making eHealth/digitalization the DNA of a modern health system.
“Through multi-sectoral campaigns‚ communities must be mobilized to combat substance abuse including excessive use of alcohol intake and violence” said Ramokgopa.
To address overcrowding at Tembisa Hospital‚ the MEC said there was a plan to build a District Hospital as well as to increase the number of clinics that provide 24 hours healthcare services in the area. She gave no further details.
She intends to pay more unannounced visits to state health facilities between the months of July and December this year.