KWAZULU-NATAL'S health department says it will come down hard on "incompetent and lazy staff".
KWAZULU-NATAL'S health department says it will come down hard on "incompetent and lazy staff".
The warning was issued by MEC for health Si-bongiseni Dhlomo during a visit to KwaNxamalala Clinic in Nkandla on Saturday after the tragic deaths of Mjumpu Gcaba and her husband James.
The Gcabas tried to access a clinic with their daughter who was in labour last month. They hired a car to rush their daughter to the local KwaNxamalala Clinic, which is not far from their home in Lindela.
When they arrived at the clinic a security guard turned them away, saying there was no one to attend to them because the duty nurse had gone off work. The newborn baby was stillborn and delivered in the car.
While on their way to another clinic about 10km away, they were involved in a car accident.
Dhlomo said the department was saddened by the deaths. He assured the community and local Inkosi Bhekumuzi Zuma that the department was going to act decisively against employees who are not performing.
Dhlomo said he was attending a conference in Kigali when he received a call from Premier Zweli Mkhize informing him about the incident. He cut short his trip and came back.
The department was collecting information and whoever was found to have done something wrong would be dealt with, he said.
"People come to the clinic or hospital because they are sick and it is not right to turn them away. This is the message we will be sending to all our staff. We will be very tough on workers who are not doing their work."
Zuma said: "I would like to thank the MEC for showing that he cares by taking the unfortunate situation seriously. My community and I appreciate this."
MEC vows to act after tragic deaths
KWAZULU-NATAL'S health department says it will come down hard on "incompetent and lazy staff".
KWAZULU-NATAL'S health department says it will come down hard on "incompetent and lazy staff".
The warning was issued by MEC for health Si-bongiseni Dhlomo during a visit to KwaNxamalala Clinic in Nkandla on Saturday after the tragic deaths of Mjumpu Gcaba and her husband James.
The Gcabas tried to access a clinic with their daughter who was in labour last month. They hired a car to rush their daughter to the local KwaNxamalala Clinic, which is not far from their home in Lindela.
When they arrived at the clinic a security guard turned them away, saying there was no one to attend to them because the duty nurse had gone off work. The newborn baby was stillborn and delivered in the car.
While on their way to another clinic about 10km away, they were involved in a car accident.
Dhlomo said the department was saddened by the deaths. He assured the community and local Inkosi Bhekumuzi Zuma that the department was going to act decisively against employees who are not performing.
Dhlomo said he was attending a conference in Kigali when he received a call from Premier Zweli Mkhize informing him about the incident. He cut short his trip and came back.
The department was collecting information and whoever was found to have done something wrong would be dealt with, he said.
"People come to the clinic or hospital because they are sick and it is not right to turn them away. This is the message we will be sending to all our staff. We will be very tough on workers who are not doing their work."
Zuma said: "I would like to thank the MEC for showing that he cares by taking the unfortunate situation seriously. My community and I appreciate this."