Patients ‘stranded’ at Town Hill Hospital as workers down tool
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) is hopeful that renewed talks with KwaZulu-Natal Health Department will help bring an end to the stand-off between staff and management at Pietermaritzburg's Town Hill Hospital.
KZN spokesperson Mazwi Ngubane says it is unfortunate that patients have borne the brunt of their protest.
Union members at Town Hill downed tools this week over a number of grievances, including shift work.
They have also accused the nursing manager of belittling and insulting staff in front of patients.
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Ngubane says they want to resolve these issues as soon as possible.
"We are talking about 350 members and yes, there has been a very bad result after this action because the patients are stranded there.
"It's now our intention as Nehawu, we are a health union and we care for patients and community at large.
"This is not what we want and that is why we are pushing the department to meet us today so that the matter will be resolved and the patients will be taken care of."
