Issued by: Gauteng Provincial Government
17 November 1997
The Gauteng Health Department will hold an emergency meeting tomorrow morning at Helen Joseph Hospital to put additional controls in place to prevent any party at the institution resorting to physical force and threats of violence.
Our acting management at the institution and representatives of the National Educational Health and Allied Workers Union are both expected to be present at the meeting.
Without prejudging the validity of various allegations and counter-allegations in this matter, the Department wishes to make it clear that coercion and violence will not be condoned as a means of settling disputes. It is intolerable for health personnel to reduce a public hospital to chaos and to prejudice patient care in pursuit of their own interests.
A further statement will be released after tomorrow's talks.
Dawn Joseph Chief Director Human Resource Management
Contact number: 082 578 5474 (For radio interviews only)
Released by the Directorate for Health Promotion & Communications Contact number: Jo-Anne Collinge 082 574 5510