GQEBERHA – The Dora Nginza Hospital and the Motherwell Community Health Centre (CHC) in Gqeberha are back to full working capacity following unprotected strike action at the two facilities.
This was confirmed by Eastern Cape Department of Health Head of Department (HOD) Dr Rolene Wagner, who briefed the media on 13 April.
“Staff have returned to work and services have been restored. The second reason to engage with the media was just to apologise to the community that was affected by the disruption, both at Motherwell CHC as well as Dora Nginza Hospital,” said Wagner.
“We want to appreciate that you’ve given us room as an administration to deal with the disruptions. We also want to appreciate everyone who stepped up and stepped forward to work with us as we had to divert patients and manage the services within the wider Nelson Mandela Bay as well as the Sarah Baartman District.”
According to a report by the South African Government News Agency, Wagner indicated that the striking workers at Motherwell raised issues related to safety following criminal incidents at the facility.
“This was because we had six break-ins at the Motherwell CHC. We do want to note that those break-ins, when computers were stolen, there were no signs of forced entry. The department opened a case, and we are putting together a panel to do an investigation into why and how the computers disappeared,” said Wagner.
“Immediately, the management met with the staff, understood the concerns and we started implementing a series of security interventions. That included clearing the trees, putting up floodlights and CCTV cameras. The access gates were also repaired and guards patrolled the perimeter.”
Security interventions were further stepped up following another attempted break-in at the facility, while trauma debriefing was also arranged for the workers.
Wagner said that at Dora Nginza, the department would be engaging the workers and details will not be furnished now.
She said that the facility was particularly affected by the strike as some non-striking workers were taken out of wards and some union members were interfering with operations.
“What we can say is that there was unprotected action. It is said that it is in relation to additional overtime and it was also related to Motherwell CHC, now putting pressure on Dora Nginza to try and absorb the patients from casualty and maternity,” said Wagner.
“We called on SAPS and opened a case against the individuals that were interfering with the operations.”
ALSO READ: Father fears for unborn child as strike disrupts maternity care at Dora Nginza
