The SA Nursing Council has threatened to take legal action against the Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA for what it calls 'malicious and callous' statements.
The New Age reports that this was after it claimed a nurse collapsed last month while queuing to renew her licence at the council’s only office in Pretoria. She later died in hospital, Denosa said.
Acting registrar of the SANC Sizeni Mchunu said the council took exception to statements made by the organisation’s spokesperson. “The statement is devoid of fact. The SANC states no person has ever passed away within the boundaries of its premises and certainly not due to long queues and drawn out processes.
“The onus is on Denosa to produce documentary evidence supporting its allegation,” Mchunu said. The council has given Denosa 24 hours to issue a formal apology and to retract “false statements” against it.
Denosa said it’s awaiting feedback on its request for a meeting with SANC to discuss “pressing nursing issues”. “Denosa owes SANC no apology or evidence and they are at liberty to exercise their legal right,” Denosa secretary general Oscar Phaka is quoted in the report as saying.
The report says last year the Young Nurses Indaba marched to SANC demanding among other things that the council decentralise its office and establish offices in all nine provinces to allow nurses to register there.
The council said it has put in place short-term measures to ensure a smooth registration and has appealed for understanding from its members. Mchunu has also called on Denosa to produce evidence it has offered the council space at its offices for registration.
[link url="http://www.thenewage.co.za/sanc-threatens-denosa/"]The New Age report[/link]