Tembisa Hospital staff overloaded after nearly 450 vacancies reported

Tembisa Hospital is 25% understaffed, resulting in staff carrying heavier workloads, reports Kempton Express.

MP and DA deputy chief whip Michael Waters said: “This appalling situation cannot continue as not only is the quality of the healthcare provided compromised, but the staff has to carry heavier workloads, which may be a short-term solution. This in itself will lead to more staff being booked off for stress and exhaustion.”

There are currently 1,853 posts at the hospital with only 1,412 filled, resulting in 443 vacancies.

ALSO READ: Residents speak out on problems plaguing Tembisa Hospital

The categories of health professionals with the biggest shortages are nurses with 387 vacant posts, and doctors with 27 posts unfilled. Both these categories of health professionals are the backbone of any hospital and without them, the system will collapse, Waters added.

“I will be asking more questions in parliament with regard to the filling of all the vacant posts as residents cannot be subjected to compromised standards of healthcare.”

Where the hospital should optimally have 310 doctors, there are only 283. Instead of 1,400 nurses, only 1,013 are employed.

Four psychologists are available instead of six, 10 occupational therapists instead of 15, 25 radiographers instead of 35, and 12 physiotherapists instead of 16.

For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.