Phalaborwa Herald has been reliably informed that the institution’s Marketing Manager (since its inception in June 2012) Virnicia Mathebula recently resigned citing that the new Hospital Manager, Jan Scheepers is contemplating on advertising a second Marketing Manager vacancy.
“Mathebula started working in the Hospital a year before it opened to create awareness, prior to opening and worked alone in the department. She was expecting the Manager to bring an assistant, but the Manager decided to bring in another Marketing Manager at the same level, meaning that both will report as HOD’s whereas in other Clinix hospitals Marketing Managers have CLOs (Client Liaison Officers) who work under them, the CLOs work internally to look after patients’ satisfaction and assist with internal events, but Mathebula doubled those duties as Marketing Manager/CLO,” explained a source opting to remain anonymous.
Another anonymous source said Mathebula was solely responsible for marketing the hospital.
“The population/community of Phalaborwa can’t fill the hospital and some community members were/are still supporting Tzaneen, Polokwane and Nelspruit Medi clinics. If there are no specialists and if the hospital is offering poor service (patients not seen by doctors, medication not given on time or not at all, drips not being changed, shortage of nursing staff) what is the marketing manager supposes to market and the motivation for a second one? There is a lot more than what meets the eye here,” remarked our source.
We were also informed that the hospital currently services Giyani, Malamulele, Hoedspruit, Acornhoek, Thulamahashe, Dwarsloop, Bushbuckridge, Burgersfort and Steelpoort because of relationships which were built over the years with GPs and communities in those areas by Mathebula.
“Look, she also identified that transport was a challenge for people in those areas to access our services and pushed for a free patient transport service to those areas. Maybe the HM should have asked her what kind of assistance she needed before making his decision and she could have told him since she knows the market, but he hasn’t even been to any of those areas,” noted our source.
“Her resignation is a huge blow to the community of Phalaborwa, as Ms Mathebula grew up in this community. Not surprising, since she is the daughter of Joe Mathebula who is well-known as the first black Mayor of Phalaborwa and like his daughter, dedicated to serving the community. Through her position Ms Mathebula supported a lot of community projects and one worth mentioning is Lethabong Old Age Centre,” said a community member preferring to remain anonymous.
The community member added that Mathebula recently organised 100 beds from Clinix Selby Park Hospital in Johannesburg to be donated to the centre as well as another 20 for Bougainvilla Frail Care Centre. She also organised First Aid (for the second year running) for school athletics held at Namakgale Stadium on the 28 and 29 January, where there was none previously,” explained a worried source.
Phalaborwa Herald was further informed that the hospital has had five managers since inception.
“The previous Hospital Manager was Mr Zenzo Dabula, he started in March last year to replace Mr Micheal Strauss who left without notice in February. The current Hospital Manager is Mr Jan Scheepers who started in October last year to replace Mr Ndabula who was allegedly forced to resign,” added our source.
It never rains but pours for Clinix, as Dr Botlalo Thibedi, a physician, left at the end of November last year and there is currently no physician at the Hospital. GP’s are admitting and looking after their own patients and some are being transferred to Tzaneen or Polokwane.
“Dr Thibedi was the third Physician since the hospital opened in 2012. Dr Mashika Abel Ramoba – Obstetrician/Gynaecologist left in September. The current Paediatrician is Dr Janet Miles and she’s also alleged to have served notice until the end of March. There are other Specialists who left last year as well, Dr Piet Van Rensburg (Ophthalmologist/Eye Specialist) is of them,” according to our source.
The reasons cited by some of the Specialists for the resignations is volumes (number of patients seen), shortage of nursing staff and skills as well as management related issues (lack of communication/ignorance of issues etc.)
“Despite nursing staff being added, one of the major complaints from nurses is being forced to work flexi hours. If there are no patients, they are sent home, without considering the money they have spent coming to work and their time. Some would have travelled from Bushbuckridge, Tzaneen etc. to come to work. In other instances they end up owing work hours and having to make up for them. Is it their fault that there are no patients? Something drastic needs to be done urgently,” emphasised our source.
Our source further said in another development, the hospital’s employees supported by their union NEHAWU and its affiliates were planning to go on strike over unresolved issues with management. An urgent meeting was held with NEHAWU on February 5 which somehow halted the strike.
When contacted for comment, Mathebula referred all questions to management.
Efforts to get comment from NEHAWU were fruitless at the time of going to print.
For Clinix’s detailed response, click on: https://goo.gl/ne6mIB
