HEALTHCARE workers union, Hospersa, is concerned about the increase of coronavirus infections by Netcare staff.
ALSO READ: St Augustine’s Hospital closed as more staff undergo testing
The union, which consists of about 60 000 health workers across the country, said it had received complaints from its Netcare-affiliated members working at six different hospitals across the country.
“The main concern that our members have raised is the availability and issuing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). We raised this concern with Netcare and on Tuesday, 17 April 2020, reached an agreement for sufficient PPE to be provided to all employees in its facilities,” said Noel Desfontaine, Hospersa General Secretary.
In Durban, two Nectare hospitals, St Augustine’s and Kingsway, have been closed and are not taking in new patients due to coronavirus exoposure.
According to the latest figure released by Netcare, 47 of its staff and doctors have tested positive for the coronavirus just at the St Augustine Hospital.
Desfontaine echoed the sentiments of the Department of Health for a wide-ranging investigation into Netcare’s safety procedures for its staff.
“Addressing such concerns now would limit the possibility of more hospital closures when the virus peaks in September, as predicted by the DoH. We urge all private health institution to adhere to the Occupational Health and Safety Act by providing safe working conditions or face being closed down at a later stage where it could even be more detrimental to our fight against COVID-19,” he said.
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