While an unannounced late night visit to Durban’s Wentworth Hospital by KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane was welcomed by the nursing union, it was slammed by the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu), which argued that she should rather focus on “fundamental, structural issues like severe understaffing and infrastructure backlogs”, reports IOL.
The inspection came after a surge in public complaints.
Arriving just before 8pm, the MEC “encountered and experienced first-hand some of the challenges reported by the public”, and expressed serious concern over health services and management issues, said the department.
She was later joined by HoD Penny Msimango and district management, signalling imminent intervention.
“The MEC has directed management to submit an urgent turnaround plan,” the department said.
But Nehawu KZN secretary Ayanda Zulu questioned the authenticity of the “unannounced” visit, and insisted that for the intervention to be meaningful, “it must address the core problems contributing to issues like long queues and shortages”.
Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (Denosa) KZN secretary Andile Mbeje welcomed the visit, which came on the heels of concerns raised by communities, patients, and staff regarding conditions at the institution.
“For a long time, the nurses have complained about staff shortages, increasing patient numbers, overcrowding, operational difficulties, and the pressure these challenges place on frontline healthcare workers,” Mbeje said.
He said the situation has negatively affected staff morale, patient care, and the overall functioning of the hospital.
He urged immediate, practical intervention to stabilise the situation: fill vacant nursing posts, strengthen hospital management and accountability, provide adequate equipment and resources, improve healthcare worker safety and working conditions, implement employee wellness and psychological support, and ensure continuous engagement between management, unions, and staff.
DA KZN Health spokesperson Dr Imran Keeka applauded the visit, saying the MEC’s findings had confirmed the many concerns that had repeatedly been raised.
He said recent public reports paint a troubling picture, including: a woman giving birth in the parking lot due to access issues; the alleged rape of a psychiatric patient; alarming delays and accounts from the casualty unit; and widespread complaints about the conduct of the contracted private security company, causing patient and public distress.
“The DA is aware that a hospital board was recently appointed, after a prolonged absence of such a structure, to serve as a bridge between the community and the institution. While this is welcomed, there remains considerable work ahead to restore confidence, accountability and proper governance at the facility,” Keeka added.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Questions after hospital discharges pain-wracked child with Panado
Call for probe after woman gives birth outside hospital