Angry workers, including nurses, allege that the hospital's management has neither paid their overtime nor moonlighting shifts. They further allege that instead of being financially remunerated, the hospital would reward them with a day off. According to student nurses at the hospital, they have been sent home by the North-West University as a safety precaution. 

OFM News is awaiting a response to questions sent to the North West Department of Health.  

Nurses further alleged that all the other hospitals, including the Tshepong Hospital in Klerksdorp, remunerate their employees with three paychecks which include overtime, the standard salary payment, and their moonlight shifts, which is not the case at the Potchefstroom Hospital.  

Meanwhile, in the same breath, services are being restored at the Christiana Hospital in the North West.  According to the department, the plight of the communities of the Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipality and nearby locations, who are desperate for intervention that will ensure delivery of quality hospital services, will soon be answered. 

This follows the announcement by the North West Health MEC Madoda Sambatha, on the progress of the department’s plans to restore hospital services at Christiana, says Lekgethwane. This follows news of the hospital being damaged by fire in September 2021. The Department began with processes to restore hospital services for the community, following the release of a report on the cause of the fire and the extent of the damages says Lekgethwane.  

“The community of Christiana will be pleased to learn that a service provider has already been appointed for immediate delivery of park homes, which will benefit the community long after the reconstruction of the hospital is completed. This intervention is most desirable in a situation where the need for health services is urgent like in the case of Christiana,” adds Lekgethwane.

OFM News/Lee Simmons