South Africaʼs hospital groups have begun recruiting volunteers and retired employees, as they grapple with increasing COVID-19 cases and staff shortages. News24 reports that Mediclinic, Life Healthcare and Netcare were already feeling the financial impact of the pandemic, with their revenue declines running into billions, as elective surgeries ended. However, the second wave of the pandemic means that they now have to deal with possible bed and staff shortages.
“We have noted a strong, sustained and sudden increase in the number of COVID-19 patients presenting for care with numbers rising dramatically across KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng over the past two weeks,” said Dr Gerrit de Villiers, clinical performance group general manager at Mediclinic International. To deal with the increased demand and pressure on its facilities, the group has begun a formal volunteer recruitment process for community members who did not have healthcare experience and others who had previously worked in the industry.
Life Healthcare, which has had volunteers since the beginning of the pandemic said it was in the process of formalising its programme to make the best use of volunteersʼ skills and time.
At Netcare, News24 reports, staff cut their leave short and returned to work and the group was also recruiting doctors, clinical staff, social workers and students to assist.
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