Generic Picture: Taung District Hospital nurses
By BAKANG MOKOTO
Patients were left stranded at Taung District Hospital after healthcare workers embarked on protest and downed their tools since Monday. This comes after healthcare workers alleged that the department failed to pay them their overtime and performance bonuses for three months.
One of the healthcare workers who refused to be named for fear of reprisal said: “We will continue with the protest until the management adheres to our demands. We cannot continue as normal, while we are owed by the management.
“We tried to engage with them in numerous times, but we were sent from pillars to post. Now, it is high time that the management listens to us and stop being arrogant. How do you expect us to perform our duties while we are not happy?
Another healthcare worker said they have been at the forefront in a fight against coronavirus and joining one fight over the other is not a false choice at all. She said given their career choice to protect human lives, the effect of disparities in their work is imperative fighting for.
“After all, we have been risking our lives to save others who were sick, the novel coronavirus causes, and we understand how events like protests may land a whole new crop of cases in our care, some of whom we may not be able to help. However, the management leaves us with no choice,” he said.
Meanwhile, the North West Health Department spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane said it true that they did not pay healthcare workers their performance bonuses. He said before payments are done, the normal process is verification and approval and that normally takes time.
“The facility has not received approval of Performance Management and Development System (PMDS) as yet. The employees were informed on Monday that their June and July claims will be paid on Thursday next week.
“For August, employees are still making submissions through their respective managers /supervisors. PMDS will be processed once verification and approval by the province is granted,” said Lekgethwane.
He further said emergencies and critical patients are being referred to Joe Morolong Hospital in Vryburg.
The Guardian 