The provincial Health Department has assured workers at St Aidan’s Hospital that their jobs are safe after a non-violent protest last week, but the future of the hospital is still uncertain.
Nursing staff and other workers at the hospital on Wednesday met the department’s eThekwini area manager Dr Mandla Mhlongo, to find a resolution to several issues, including vacant managerial positions such as chief executive officer and medical manager.
“We have agreed with workers to investigate a number of issues presented to us,” he said.
Mhlongo said they would meet the workers next week to present a report on the problems raised.
The future of the hospital was not on the agenda, and a decision about this would be made by the department’s management committee.
The Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA welcomed the outcomes of yesterday’s meeting.
“The situation is back to normal pending feedback. The department promised to launch an investigation into the positions available,” said Cassim Lekhoathi, Denosa provincial secretary.
Hundreds of members of the National Education Health and Allied Workers Union picketed outside Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital on Wednesday.
They wanted to hand a memorandum to KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo, but he sent a representative to meet them, hospital chief executive Sifiso Mtshali said.
The union also picketed last Wednesday. They wanted the MEC to fire the hospital’s human resources and systems managers, claiming they were incompetent, Mtshali said.
Provincial Health Department spokesman Chris Maxon said Dhlomo could not meet union members because he had a meeting, but would address the matter.