The Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital is short of 364 nurses and over 400 “skilled staff”vacancies.
Shadow MEC for Health in Gauteng, Jack Bloom, is concerned that it affects the quality of patient care. “Many nurses are close to retirement age, so more training and recruitment is needed to fill the nursing posts at this major hospital,” he said. Despite the nursing positions, there are numerous medical and allied staff positions, also vacant. There are 12 medical and 27 allied staff positions available.
The Gauteng Health MEC, Qedani Mahlangu, has however, assured the public that the hospital continues to thrive and render quality services, despite losing clinical staff “pursuing better opportunities in the private sector.”
She said the primary reason cited by employees for leaving is due to better remuneration in the private sector and the opportunity for self-employment.
“That said, we can reassure the public that there has been no impact on patient-care related to the loss of skilled staff as vacant posts are filled timeously. Vacancies are advertised as and when they become available,” Mahlangu added and said that 2 201 nursing posts have been filled with 364 now vacant.
Despite staff shortages, Charlotte Maxeke, referred to as the Joburg Gen, earlier received a R50 million improvement in Radiology. On 22 June the hospital launched its new Picture Archiving and Communication System (Pacs) and the Radiology Information System (Ris). It was previously reported that this new system will send doctors information about a patient, electronically.
Details: Gauteng Department of Health on 011 355 3000
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