DIRE ANAESTHETIST SHORTAGE AT JOBURG HOSPITAL

8 out of 12 specialist anaesthetist posts are vacant at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic hospital following mass resignations last year.

This is revealed by Gauteng Health MEC Hope Papo in a written reply to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature.

According to the reply, 12 specialist anaesthetists resigned from the hospital last year.

This is a major reason why operations are cancelled or deferred, leading to more than 1000 patients on waiting lists for surgery at the hospital.

Other vacancies at the hospital include 3 out of 7 senior management posts and 64 out of 603 medical posts.

Doctors complain that management is insensitive to their needs, which has led to resignations.

According to Papo, seven anaesthetists have been interviewed and given job offers, but resignations will continue unless management problems are resolved.

Poor management has led to other problems as well, including a cleaners' strike related to problems at the mortuary.

The Gauteng Health Department must intervene to ensure that this major hospital provides a quality service to all patients.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Health Spokesman, March 13 2014

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