Durban - Hospital staff unable to show compassion to patients at KwaZulu-Natal's provincial hospitals and clinics should leave and allow others to do the work, health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo said on Friday.
“Healthcare workers either take an oath or pledge that they will do their best. If they cannot do this they must move aside to allow others to take their place,” he said.
Dhlomo made the comments after addressing hospital chief executive officers and public relations officers in Durban.
He highlighted a number of media reports in recent months that had exposed the poor care some patients had received.
The briefing was aimed at reducing the number of complaints about staff's bad attitude.
Dhlomo said one of the measures put in place was so-called “mystery patients” who would visit hospitals and report on the treatment they received from hospital staff.
“They just come and ask for a (hospital) service. I don't know who they are. I don't see the people (the mystery patients); I just see a report.”
He said he would then have to act on the reports.
Asked about vacant senior posts, he said the department was making progress in filling them.
Sapa