PRESS STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AT BARAGWANATH HOSPITAL ON 7 SEPTEMBER 1995

Issued by: Department of Health

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE FOR HEALTH WORKERS

The National and Provincial Departments of Health hereby expresses concern at the poor conditions of services for health workers in the public health sector Health workers are working under very difficult circumstances and we are committed to resolving the situation.

NATIONAL CONSULTATIVE FORUM

We are proposing to set up a National Health Consultative Forum to discuss conditions of service for health workers. This does not in any way replace the National Central Bargaining Chamber. The terms of reference of this forum will be decided at the first meeting of the forum.

Representative organisations for health workers should send the names of their representatives addresses and the group they represent to Dr Ayanda Ntsaluba Deputy Director General for Health Policy and Planning.

These must be sent by fax to Dr Ntsaluba at 012-323-1980 as soon as possible. Details for the first meeting of the National Health Consultative Forum will be sent to all those who send the requested information.

PROPOSED TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE NATIONAL NURSING CONSULTATIE SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL HEALTH CONSULTATIVE FORUM.

The Consultative Forum will:

  1. Investigate the appropriate basis for salary determination for professional and auxiliary nurses.
  2. Investigate mechanisms to ensure that nurses are accorded the proper professional status.
  3. Investigate appropriate ratios of nurses to patients in hospitals.
  4. Investigate the training and education of nurses; human resource development of nurses; proper career structures for all categories of nurses including clinical nurses.
  5. Investigate the mechanisms for smooth integration of local authority and provincial health authority nurses including the question of parity in conditions of service.
  6. Determine appropriate rewards for commitment for working under difficult circumstances.
  7. Determine appropriate rewards for professional nurses who show a compassionate and caring attitude towards patients.
  8. Develop standards for allowances between different categories of professional nurses.
  9. Develop a fair and equitable system of payment of allowances.
  10. Discuss the Charter of Community and Patient's Rights and the implications for nurses.
  11. Any other matters relevant to nurses' conditions of services.

2 WHO SHOULD ATTEND

Mandated representative groups of nurses and of communities.

3 DATE TIME PLACE & DRAFT AGENDA FOR FIRST MEETING.

DATE: 18 SEPTEMBER 1995

TIME: 9:00-15:00

PLACE: GAUTENG PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE.

DRAFT AGENDA.

  1. Terms of Reference
  2. Membership
  3. Frequency of meeting
  4. Other matters.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
KHANGELANI VINCENT HLONGWANE: MINISTERIAL MEDIA LIAISON OFFICER
PAGER (021) 418-4515 (NAT 1192)