The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, has instructed the human resource unit of the department of health to unfreeze clinical posts in the first 26 hospitals of the province.
This follows the personnel salary system (PERSAL) (computer programme for human resource management in government) being programmed to freeze posts immediately as they become vacant or those that have been vacant for sometime. Last week, on 20 January 2010, the MEC instructed 26 institutions, at this stage, to commence with recruitment and filling of clinical posts.
The hospitals that have started with recruitment and filling processes are:
Appelsbosch
Church of Scotland
Emmaus
Hlengisizwe CHC
Fort Napier
GJ Crookes
Grey’s
Inkosi Albert Luthuli (nursing)
King Edward hospital (O and G)
KwaDabeka CHC
Lower Umfolozi War Memorial
Madadeni
Manguzi
Mbongolwane
Northdale
Rietvlei
St Aidan’s
St Apollinaris
St Margaret
Umgungundlovu clinics
Umgungundlovu and UThungulu district Offices
“Our greatest area of focus is the clinical services (doctors and nurses) where we are faced with pressures. The unfreezing process takes into consideration the effect of service delivery at district level; that is: ensuring that we provide adequate services within a district in order not to compromise access. We have not stopped in considering all applications for unfreezing of posts.
It must be noted that the occupancy change is subject to the resources we have available in the province to fill the posts being unfrozen. On the other hand, the overall impact of these measures must be accompanied by other key resources: motivated staff, information and finance” says the Head of Department for Health in KwaZulu-Natal, Dr Sibongile Zungu.
The department recognises that workers in health are experiencing increasing stress and uncertainty as they react to a complex array of challenges. Youthful populations, new diseases as well as increasing burden of current diseases, are all challenges to which the workforce must be prepared to respond.
The unmistakable imperative is to strengthen the workforce so that health systems can tackle crippling diseases and achieve better health goals. A strong human infrastructure is fundamental to closing today’s gap between health promise and health reality, and anticipating the health challenges of the future.
Issued by: Department of Health, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
27 January 2010
Source: Department of Health, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
(http://www.kznhealth.gov.za/)
