Nehawu: Understaffed health centres puts lives at risk
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union has warned that understaffing in healthcare facilities will continue to put patients' lives at risk if the issue isn't addressed.
Nehawu in KwaZulu-Natal says it's shocked and saddened by the death of a man at a clinic in KwaMashu.
The 41-year-old was waiting for treatment outside the CHC Poly Clinic when he passed away this week.
The Department of Health in KZN says it appears the patient, who had been treated before, had not been in for a checkup for a while and was severely ill.
Nehawu's Ayanda Zulu says they believe that staff shortages are the issue.
READ: KZN Health responds after patient dies at KwaMashu clinic
He says vacant medical posts need to be filled as soon as possible.
"As the union, we will wait for the investigation from the department, but we must make it a point that it is now time that the department implements the nurse-patient ratio so that our members in their majority are not found doing the job of nine nurses."
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