Backlog in mortuaries as strike ends
“Our teams are hard at work to clear backlogs in all the affected facilities”.
The end of the mortuary strike has led to a backlog in deceased bodies being released to families.
The Gauteng Department of Health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa said the department was happy the Forensic Pathology Officers (FPOs) had returned to work last Thursday.
“Our teams are hard at work to clear backlogs in all the affected facilities,” said Ramokgopa.
“Official reports indicate the FPOs reported for duty in Germiston, Hillbrow, Roodepoort, Diepkloof forensic pathology service centres and other facilities in the province.”
Also read: Mortuary strike hits Gauteng
She apologised to the bereaved families and requested they remain patient as the FPOs were doing their best to release their deceased relatives.
“As we clear these backlogs, we are pleading with the grieving families to be patient with us.”
She said the department would do everything in its power to expedite the release of the bodies.
“We would also like to apologise to the families, some of whom had to incur cost due to delays and postponed funerals.”
The Public Health and Social Development Sectoral Bargaining Council signed an agreement on 29 June to resolve FPOs demands, but FPOs continued to strike.
Ramokgopa said her department wrote letters to FPOs informing them if they failed to return to work, they could be dismissed.
“We did this in the interest of the public, the justice department and the SAPS, which relies on the pathology services for certain cases.”
“We are pleased to say the workers heeded our call for them to return to work and continue to provide this essential service. I will be meeting with the workers in the next few days.”
Also read: DA slams health department over mortuary strike
Some of the issues FPOs wanted to address included the following:
– Reinstate counselling and debriefing sessions for employees as needed.
– Conducted an audit of critical equipment and protective clothing with immediate effect.
– Implement the danger allowance to qualifying employees.
– Reinstate the 2010 staff grading system, revise job descriptions and provide special allowance for dissection and evisceration.
Ramokgopa said the department would reverse the salary scales to those prior to 2010.
She said this would come into effect by the end of July.
“The debriefing sessions will be reinstated with immediate effect and we will ensure protective clothing is procured and FPO management always has these in stock.”
She said the department would introduce a special allowance for evisceration and dissection under the supervision of a medical officer or a pathologist, and FPOs would receive more training and have a statutory body set up for them to register on.
“We are grateful and owe a debt of gratitude to all those who pitched in during this strike, the forensic pathologists who worked long hours, the sessional doctors, the South African Military Health Services and all other partners who eased the pain of the affected families while working within the law.”
DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC Jack Bloom, who has been commenting on the strike for weeks, said his party had welcomed the end of the strike.
“I welcome the announcement by Gauteng Health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa that the mortuary strike is over,” said Bloom.
“This strike lasted four weeks and caused incredible anguish and expense to families who waited many days to bury their loved ones.”
He alleged Ramokgopa had mishandled the strike in its initial phase.
“Ramokgopa mishandled this strike from the start as mortuaries are an essential service and a court order should have stopped it.”
“She has mischaracterised it as a work-to-rule but it was illegal as the job description of the forensic assistants has always included assistance with autopsies under guidance of pathologists.”
He also blamed the department for not addressing FPOs demands at an earlier stage.
“The department was also to blame for not addressing earlier the legitimate grievances of forensic assistants.”
“I hope that lessons are learned from this and that mortuary services work properly in future.”
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