Concern over Covid-19 cases at private hospitals
The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (Denosa) and the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) have expressed concern at the number of Cpvid-19 cases at private hospitals.
On Wednesday Netcare Kingsway in Durban closed for new admissions after a patient tested positive for the virus.
The upmarket St Augustine's Hospital in the same city has also been in the spotlight following a number of deaths at the facility.
Denosa's KwaZulu-Natal secretary Mandla Shabangu says the matter must be investigated.
"Netcare portrayed a picture to us, defending themselves that they have done everything to protect healthcare workers. But the strange thing is that if you go back to the number of people who have been confirmed dead as a result of Covid-19 in KZN, 50% of those cases come from Netcare.
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"A week ago, Netcare St Agustine in Durban reported that 48 healthcare workers are affected. We don't know how many are affected at Kingsway, but we suspect the numbers are high. Now we are asking the question, why only Netcare is having this problem if they maintain that they are following the WHO guidelines?”
Mediclinic Morningside also confirmed 19 cases of Covid-19, four of which are patients and nine healthcare workers.
The hospital has also closed for new admissions and will only deal with emergencies.
Nehawu spokesperson Khaya Xaba says failure to protect