not be taken seriously
11 May 2006
The Gauteng Department of Health has noted the statement by the DA on the
survey the party claims to have undertaken.
The statement contains glaring omissions which make it difficult to believe
that a scientific survey was actually carried out or whether this is a work of
fiction. Critical information, such the name of the company that undertook the
survey, the margin of error in the result, the period over which the survey was
carried out and the hospitals or clinics surveyed, is missing.
This information is necessary and is commonly provided in all scientific
survey results, to determine the credibility of the findings. In the absence of
this vital information the survey result must be treated with caution as it may
be the product of someoneâs fertile imagination.
The Department would like to reiterate its commitment to improving the
working conditions for nurses and all health professionals in the public
sector. This year the salary notches of primary health care nurses, psychiatric
nurses, forensic nurses, nursing educators and other categories of allied
health professionals including registrars, will be reviewed to improve their
remuneration.
A uniform allowance was introduced last year following agreement with
unions.
The Department announced a staff retention and recruitment strategy last
year and immediately embarked on a drive to employ health professionals. By the
end of the financial year, 2 950 health professionals, including nurses, had
been employed. This was above the target of 2 300 that the Department had set
for itself and this campaign will continue in this financial year.
Together with the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa, the
Department has undertaken the Caring for the Carer Campaign to improve
conditions under which nurses work and to look after their general well-being.
The Department also has a wellness programme to assist employees and there is a
sexual harassment policy that is intended to offer further protection to
members of staff.
Discussions have also been entered into with a major faith-based
organisation to launch a public-private initiative to improve nursing care in
the province. The abuse of nurses is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated and
the Department will act within the law and in accordance with its policies to
deal with this.
The improvement of management capacity at hospitals is a matter that the
Department has paid attention to. A performance management system has been
developed to manage hospitals and ensure accountability. The Department has not
hesitated in the past to take disciplinary action when hospital managers have
been shown not to be executing their duties according to expectations. This
will continue this year and into the future.
Enquiries:
Simon Zwane
Cell: 082 551 9892
Tel: (011) 355 3503
Issued by: Department of Health, Gauteng Provincial Government
11 May 2006
