‘This is all I know’-runner
A little light shines after an uphill battle for runners at Helen Joseph Hospital.
Two months ago runners were not allowed to operate at Helen Joseph Hospital, leaving some of the elderly in distress since the people they depend on are not accommodated by the hospital.
There are over 22 runners at Helen Joseph that collect over 1020 people’s repeat medication per month, this reduces the traffic and pressure on staff at the hospital according to runners.
The hospital management acknowledged that they have to sort out the runners problem as quickly as possible.
“Runners are not regulated, this means that there is not anyone accountable for their actions. I do have plans for the hospital and trying to deal with issues one by one, for now I am dealing with the runners,” said Raymond Billa, CEO of Helen Joseph.
Some of the runners have said that being a runner is all that they know.
“I have been doing this (runner) for many years at Helen Joseph Hospital, we know this hospital. We don’t just collect medication for the elderly but we help them to get to doctors’ appointments and a variety of other appointments at the hospital,” said Stephanie Jacobs, a runner.
Allegations against runners have been circulated among the management of the hospital about stealing of wheelchairs, medication and arriving at the hospital intoxicated.
“These runners are not doing this out of their hearts, some of them have paid their children’s schooling through this business.” It is a business that they are running by charging patients R50 per script. Some have come to the hospital drunk,” said Billa
Gino Goolam another runner said: “We were called into a meeting with management where we heard about the allegations against the runners and asked to draw up a proposal for a way forward.”
The management of the hospital has met with runners to discuss a way forward with regards to runners operating at the hospital.
“We need to consult with what the law says because the Pharmacy Act states that you need to pick up your own medication,” said Billa.
“The longer we wait, the patient will suffer,” said Goolam.
Allegedly patients were asked years back for letters so that runners can pick up their medication but now none of the management is aware of these letters.
“I don’t know of the letters that have been sent years before I got here,” said Billa.
Dianne Julius, patient said she sent the CEO letters about five years ago and is still waiting for a response.
This is the only hospital that is willing to deal with this issue according to the CEO
“Runners have been operating all over and it is just at Helen Joseph that there is a problem,” said Goolam.
Runners have returned to work and continue to pick up and assist patients at the hospital.
