Nursing staff shortage: Urgent intervention is necessary – Solidarity
5 April 2019
Solidarity expressed its concern today about the current shortage of nursing staff and the detrimental results of this critical shortage for South African health care.
According to the payment and staff administration system, Persal, the ratio of nursing staff to the population who visit the public health sector, is one nurse for 401 people. “These statistics clearly indicate that nursing as a profession is in danger in South Africa, but the impact thereof on good health care for millions of South Africans is inconceivable,” Hennie Bierman, Head of Occupational Guilds at Solidarity, said.
Bierman also indicates that the delivery of qualified nursing staff in all nursing categories has decreased with almost 40% since 2013. “Since 2013, annually, 8 535 less nursing practitioners have entered the workforce and the private sector is also experiencing difficulties,” Bierman said.
Heavy workload, long hours, challenging circumstances in the workplace, the lack of support, as well as insufficient funds and equipment are contributing factors, among others, to the shortage of nursing staff. Bierman further said that the new guidelines of the Department of Public Service and Administration regarding early retirement will create even more problems for the nursing profession. “Currently, there are more nursing staff who resign or retire as there are students being trained to enter the workforce. A total of 14 043 of the current nursing practitioners now qualify for early retirement according to the Department’s new policy, Bierman said.