The Department has investigated the matter with the Operational Manager of Stanford Terrace clinic and one of the reasons for the patient queuing outside the gate was due to inadequate space in the waiting area of the clinic as the clinic was implementing disaster management strategies and observing social distancing. The spacing of patients in mitigating the spread of COVID 19, resulted in queues that were outside the gate also because of large patient numbers.
Whilst the EC DOH acknowledges the basic conditions of employment of employees and nurses in particular, the locking of the gate with nurses enjoying lunch is regrettable, and investigations by labour relations office in this regard is underway. Should the findings of our investigation be found to be inconsistent with the EC DOH policies, consequence management will be instituted to those employees who failed to exercise the Batho Pele Principles whilst on duty.
PLANNED INTERVENTIONS
As the National Department of Health, we will follow this matter closely to see to its conclusion.
END.