Reports that COVID-19 sufferers are sharing a ward with other patients at the St Dominic's Hospital in East London have been circulated. eNCA speaks to Khaya Sodidi, from the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa about the situation. Courtesy of #DStv403
EAST LONDON - Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane has issued a stern warning to private hospitals.
He said if they don't comply, they will be shut down.
He was responding to reports that COVID-19 sufferers are sharing a ward with other patients at the St Dominic's Hospital in East London.
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St Dominic's administration has been under fire from their staff who claim that 42 nurses have been infected with COVID-19.
The hospital said three staff members have tested positive for the virus.
Khaya Sodidi, chief negotiator from the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (Denosa), said the hospital administration is lying.
"We've been receiving reports, in the early days of COVID-19, about nurses getting infected in the private sector in particular Life Healthcare. It cannot be now, so many weeks after that, you only have three nurses [who have tested positive for COVID-19].
"The private sector has not been doing well at a national level," Sodidi said, flagging shutdowns of the St Augustine's hospital in KZN, Mediclinic in Gauteng, and the Eastern Cape hospital closures.
Sodidi said nurses have reported that they have not been issued with PPE and cases were hidden.
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