Union worried about mass resignation of nurses
Nurses union Denosa has suggested the Department of Health knows why there's been an exodus of nurses in KwaZulu-Natal.
Denosa's Mandla Shabangu says the challenges facing the nursing fraternity have contributed to mass resignations.
"As a union we've been engaging the Department of Health about the challenges that have been facing nurses, which some of them forced them to rather resign from employment and look for employment somewhere else, because of the difficulties they're facing," he said
Health MEC Sbongiseni Dhlomo has asked hospital and clinic managers to find out the reasons behind the increase in resignations.
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Most of the professionals quitting are said to be midwives, neonatal and theatre nurses especially in rural areas.
Shabangu says safety and staff shortages are contributing factors.
"If this is raised with the department, the department is saying: 'We don't have enough money to keep nurses employed.' How will the nurses remain employed and cope with the burden of work that was done by five people?" he said.