The Free State Health Department and nursing personnel at National Hospital in Bloemfontein have come to an agreement, as the Public Servants Association (PSA) met with the provincial health department head, David Motau, today to outline their members’ list of demands and chart a way forward.

PSA’s Lynsie Pelser, confirms they have managed to come to somewhat of an agreement on all the issues that were brought forward by their members.

This includes enforcing the isolation of suspected COVID-19 positive employees and keeping them away from work until their tests results come back - and the contentious issue of closing down an entire health facility following a confirmed case.

Should an employee test positive for the coronavirus, only the area where the employees are stationed will be closed off and then undergo decontamination and cleaning. After this, the specific ward or area will be reopened for the use of other employees. “What is very clear is that the employer does not have to close down a whole hospital or clinic where the infection is. It is basically the area where the employee is stationed that must be cleaned” explains Pelser.

The latter resolution echoes statements made by health department spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi last week, who has called the persistent calls for health facilities to be shut down following confirmed cases “impractical and unsustainable”.

Mvambi said in reaction to a similar strike at the Fezi Ngubentombi Hospital in Sasolburg, where healthcare personnel alleged there was not enough protective equipment and urged the department to shut down that hospital.

In addition to the abovementioned demands, the health department and the union have agreed to prioritise and protect vulnerable employees above the age of 60-years old, as well as those who are also suffering from chronic diseases like hypertension and diabetes.

They plan to do this by either designating certain workspaces specifically for them or sending them home until it is safe to return.

Pelser says her members are happy with the outcome.

The Free State now has 2 306 active cases and 19 deaths. The epicentre of the pandemic in the province remains in Mangaung, which includes Bloemfontein.

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