This is according to Jack Bloom, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health.
“This was revealed in the department’s 2013/14 annual report that was tabled recently in the Gauteng Legislature. The overall vacancy rate is 11.7 per cent, with higher vacancies in skilled medical positions,” says Bloom.
He adds that Gauteng hospitals are short of 420 doctors out of 2 397 posts (17 per cent) and 2 208 professional nurses out of 15 537 posts (23 per cent).
Bloom says that other high vacancies are as follows:
n Professional nurse students there are 1 054 vacancies out of 4 706 posts (22 per cent).
n Pharmacists there are 96 vacancies out of 546 posts (17 per cent).
n Medical practitioner interns there are 187 vacancies out of 1 084 posts (17 per cent).
n Medical specialists there are 309 vacancies out of 2 536 posts (12 per cent).
n Staff nurses there are 870 vacancies out of 7 071 posts (12 per cent).
Last year 5 231 staff left the department, of which 2 173 (41.5 per cent) resigned and 1 669 left because their contracts expired (32 per cent).
“The high vacancies are a major reason for poor service in Gauteng hospitals. It compares poorly with the 4.7 per cent vacancy rate in the Western Cape Health Department.
“Every effort must be made to fill posts at Gauteng hospitals, including improved conditions to attract skilled personnel,” says Bloom.
The Gauteng Department of Health was contacted for comment. At the time of going to print, no comment had been received. – @CarmenBoksburg
