KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane, during her late-night inspection at Wentworth Hospital, addressed critical healthcare issues.
Image: Facebook / KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health
Following KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane’s unannounced, late-night inspection of Wentworth Hospital on Tuesday, the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) has criticised the value of such visits, arguing that they must focus on fundamental, structural issues like severe understaffing and infrastructure backlogs.
According to the department, Simelane conducted an unannounced evening visit at Wentworth Hospital after a surge in public complaints.
“Arriving just before 8pm, she encountered and experienced first-hand some of the challenges that were reported by the public. MEC Simelane expressed serious concern over health services and management issues. She was later joined by HOD Penny Msimango and district management, signalling imminent intervention. The MEC has directed management to submit an urgent turnaround plan,” the department said.
Nehawu KZN Secretary Ayanda Zulu first questioned the authenticity of the “unannounced” nature of the visits, stating: “Our first problem is that we don’t know whether it’s an unannounced visit or an announced unannounced visit... the state of preparedness suggested that some individuals may have been tipped off.”
He insisted that for the intervention to be meaningful, it must address the core problems contributing to issues like long queues and shortages.
“For instance, if there are long queues. Long queues in hospitals are primarily caused by the fact that there is severe understaffing. So, these visits must address those problems. And if there are infrastructure problems, workers are raising, or the hospital management is raising. These visits must not only be about the MEC visiting, but they must also address problems in public health,” Zulu said.
“Workers are severely understaffed; it’s an issue that came from the workers. When there are long queues, the community will complain about that. It’s a problem that workers continue to see.”
KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane listens to frontline healthcare workers during her unannounced visit to Wentworth Hospital.
Image: Facebook / KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health
Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (Denosa) KZN Secretary Andile Mbeje welcomed the MEC’s visit following growing concern raised by communities, patients, and healthcare workers regarding conditions at the institution.
“Nurses have for a long time been raising concerns about staff shortages, increasing patient numbers, overcrowding, operational difficulties, and the pressure these challenges place on frontline healthcare workers,” Mbeje said.
He said the current situation has negatively affected staff morale, patient care, and the overall functioning of the hospital.
Mbeje said Denosa is concerned about critical staff shortages, especially nurses; heavy workloads and burnout among nurses; long patient waiting time and overcrowding; shortages of equipment and essential resources; poor working conditions that affect service delivery; and emotional and psychological strain on healthcare workers.
He urged immediate, practical intervention to stabilise the situation: fill vacant nursing posts, strengthen hospital management and accountability, provide adequate equipment and resources, improve healthcare worker safety and working conditions, implement employee wellness and psychological support, and ensure continuous engagement between management, unions, and staff.
“Denosa further urges the Department of Health to ensure that the turnaround plans announced following the MEC’s visit are implemented without delay. Nurses cannot continue carrying the burden of a strained healthcare system without adequate support.”
Meanwhile, DA KZN Health spokesperson Dr Imran Keeka welcomed the MEC’s visit, noting that the MEC’s findings at Wentworth Hospital effectively confirmed the many concerns repeatedly raised by patients, staff, and the community.
He said recent public reports paint a troubling picture, including: a woman giving birth in the parking lot due to access issues; alleged rape of a psychiatric patient; alarming delays and accounts from the casualty unit; and widespread complaints about the conduct of the contracted private security company, causing patient and public distress.
“The DA is aware that a hospital board was recently appointed after a prolonged absence of such a structure to serve as a bridge between the community and the institution. While this is welcomed, there remains considerable work ahead to restore confidence, accountability and proper governance at the facility,” Keeka said.
thobeka.ngema@inl.co.za