UPDATE: Reply from office of health MEC with regards to NUPSAW claims

The National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (NUPSAW) has revealed their unhappiness with Far East Rand Hospital’s handling of alleged Covid-19 cases at the hospital.

“Our picket outside the Far East Rand Hospital (FERH) last Wednesday was the latest escalation in a series of growing tensions between health-care workers across the hospital.

“NUPSAW is advocating that the hospital be closed with immediate effect for deep-cleaning and provide improved Covid-19 protection, in terms of appropriate personal protective equipment, to staff.

“We are also asking for more transparency between management and health-care workers with regards to positive cases at the hospital,” says spokesperson for the union Kagiso Mokoe.

Mokoe says they will be talking to the Department of Health and Department of Employment and Labour regarding their concerns about the hospital.

Spokesperson for the office of the MEC of Health in Gauteng Kwara Kekana says NUPSAW’s call for a complete shutdown of the hospital is misplaced.

“Only affected areas were disinfected and fogged.

“Far East Rand Hospital began mandatory testing of all health-care workers on April 8, whether or not they were symptomatic.

“The first case was reported to management on May 18.

“To date, four employees have tested positive for Covid-19 and they have all self-isolated at home.

“All the contacts of positive employees were tested for Covid-19 and their results have all come back negative,” says Kekana.

Kekana says they are guided by the Department of Public Service and Administration guidelines for the Containment of the Corona Virus in the Public Service, read with the Guidelines for symptom monitoring and management of essential workers for Covid-19 related infection, in managing employees who are suspected to be Covid-19 contacts.

Also read: NUPSAW wants Far East Rand Hospital closed for decontamination

As for the union’s complaint that employees were given their test results verbally and not a print-out, Kekana says those who requested a copy of the results were issued with a hard copy.

She says there is no legal requirement to give a hard copy of the results unless requested to do so; verbal confirmation by a health-care worker is sufficient.

Additionally, the spokesperson says the reason police were called to the hospital is that NUPSAW’s picket was unlawful and management had an obligation to request assistance from law enforcement agencies to maintain lawfulness and protect patients, employees and the department’s property.

Kekana also clarified that the union did not request to meet with management.

“There are platforms available for management to engage with labour unions in addressing issues, which include multilateral and bilateral meetings,” says Kekana.

Also read: Autism a serious condition addressed at FERH

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