Scottish Hospital Employees Decry Poor Work Conditions

Innocent Selatlhwa | Monday March 27, 2017 17:08

Fingered was hospital manager, Abednigo Mafoko, who the workers accused of given them his back when they complain of things happening under his nose.

Mafoko, however vehemently shrugged off some of the accusations when The Monitor contacted him.

The Clinical Services employees, whose core duties are to support the nurses and doctors, expressed disappointment with the hospital’s failure to pay them overtime and night duty allowances for end of February. They also complained that nurses make them carry out  nursing duties and when they complain, nobody listens to them. An employee who did not want to be named fo fear of victimisation, said while nurses and other staff members get paid for working beyond stipulated hours, as auxilliary staff, they did not get to enjoy that.

“We work hard every day sacrificing time we could be spending with our families. We even do duties meant for nurses like bathing and feeding patients,” said another employee, his voice thick with emotions.

“When we questioned why we did not get paid, we were told that our claim forms were not stamped. The paying officer even had the nerve to mock us of burdening ourselves with debts relying on the overtime payments,” continued the source. Another employee said the situation was so bad some of them had a balance of P0.00 and are now stuck, unable to send their children to school any more. “The worst thing is, management does not communicate.

We hear there is a memo stating that there is no money for overtime allowances. Unfortunately, the management does not believe in proper communication challenges,” the employee moaned. The employees also complained that for years now, they have been working without uniforms. “We were told we would only be getting our salaries without any allowances for uniforms because it was promised they would be provided for. That has not been fulfilled as only nurses are provided with uniforms,” the employee continued, further shading the hospital management of failing them.

“They (management) should punish those responsible for late processing of our payments, but when we complain, it is us they chase us out of their offices. Right now, the kitchen staff can starve patients while there is food, but nobody will act.  We sometimes buy fat cakes for patients,” an employee who embodied the bitterness that ran through the group, revealed.

He also alleged abuse of the hospital transport, which he also alleged management was failing to address. “It is always a hustle when we have to be taken home when knocking off late. But it is common to see drivers using the cars for private use like ferrying animal feeds,” said the employee.  The employee alleged they usually got their payslips late and told it was due to transport shortage. He alleged that their manager was a stiff upper lip, feared man who never convened meetings where they could voice out their concerns. They decried that if no intervention was made, the situation will worsen as they will be forced to work only eight hours leaving patients at risk. When contacted, Mafoko readily admitted to some of the accusations.  “Some employees working in the hospital were not paid overtime for February. This outstanding overtime will be paid at the end of April,” he readily admitted. Mafoko, however denied employees were not provided with uniforms, insisting those without were recently employed. He said plans were afoot to buy them uniforms in the next financial year.

“We are not aware of incidents where drivers take hospital cars for personal use. All vehicles are installed with tracking devices, and any misuse will be detected immediately. All trips are authorised by senior officers before leaving the hospital. For any reported misuse by drivers, appropriate action will be taken,” he said.

Mafoko said they have clear job descriptions for all cadres in the hospital, which they adhere to. He said there is no how potters and hospital warders can perform nursing duties. “The hospital kitchen is staffed by competent staff. We have never had an incident where food was not prepared for patients.

The hospital has sufficient funds to buy patients’ food until the end of the financial year,” he said with regards to the patients feeding issue. Mafoko also said the hospital has quarterly meetings to discuss staff welfare. “These are held as per schedule. Meetings are minuted and attendance register is kept.

The last meeting was in September last year. The next one will be this March. Management has an open door policy aimed at nurturing a good working relationship with the employees.” He said complaints procedures are displayed in notice boards in all the units of the hospital for hospital staff to follow,” he said.