More nurses needed urgently
2006-08-17 22:17
Johannesburg - The North West health department has stopped hiring administrative staff in order to have enough money to hire nurses instead.
"We have already put a moratorium on the filling of administrative posts so that we are able to channel our personnel budget into recruiting and retaining nursing staff," department spokesperson Lesiba Molale said on Thursday.
The department is also trying to recruit retired nurses.
Molale said Brits hospital, west of Pretoria, would be one of the key beneficiaries.
He confirmed that the hospital has an "acute" shortage of medical staff and resources and faced "serious challenges and constraints", but denied reports of a crisis.
"There is no crisis at Brits Hospital."
On Monday, SABC reported that Brits hospital was in crisis with 34 newborn babies dying there in the past six months and inadequate medical care for patients. Hospital officials told SABC there was a shortage of nurses, doctors and equipment, and irregularities in the procurement of apparatus.
However, Molale said: "Allegations suggesting a high number of neo-natal deaths are not only alarmist, they are also irresponsible."
"A careful reading of facts will not only expose this as an exaggeration, it will also show that causes of neo-natal deaths are multi-faceted and cannot only be attributed to patient neglect at the level of a hospital.
"Other factors that may lead to neo-natal deaths are lack of utilisation of antenatal care services by expectant mothers as well as the health of pregnant mothers."
Molale said officials were "in the process of purchasing more specialised beds and other state-of-the-art equipment".
He denied knowledge of any irregularities in procurement of apparatus.
- SAPA