14 Mar 2022

 Ministry of Health and Wellness continues to rationalise staffing across all cadres to remedy the situation of staff shortage.

In response to a parliamentary question on Thursday, health and wellness assistant minister, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe said the ministry was currently experiencing a high attrition of doctors as such, a consultant was hired to look at the conditions of service for health care professionals in order to improve attraction and retention.

Parliament heard that Thamaga Primary Hospital had a total of 146 personnel which comprised seven doctors, 59 nurses, 10 drivers, two social Workers, 13 cleaners, four dental officers, 14 health care auxiliary, one medical maintenance engineer and eight pharmacy officers.

It also has two mortuary attendants, one environmental health officer, eight hospital orderlies, a switchboard operator, two storekeepers, a procurement officer, five laboratory officers, a radiographer, a catering officer, a cook and three kitchen hands.

Mr Lelatisitswe also told Parliament that the ideal number of doctors required was 10 against the seven available while the hospital also required 86 against the 59 available nurse. 

He also indicated that the hospital had four vacant positions of a principal nursing officer I at D2 level, principal nursing officer II or nursing superintendent at D3 level and two senior nursing officers or chief registered nurse at D4 level. 

However, he said the ministry had started the process of filling vacant positions for the hospital with the senior nursing officer or chief registered nurses positions filled even though the officers had not yet reported for duty. He added that other D-band positions were awaiting competency based interviews. 

The assistant minister further indicated that construction of Thamaga Primary Hospital Accident and Emergency wing was proposed for implementation under National Development Plan 11 during the 2017/18 financial year. 

However, he said the project was not executed due to budgetary constraints. 

“The ministry is currently reviewing projects to be prioritised under the NDP 12 and Thamaga Primary Hospital Accident and Emergency Wing project is among the list of projects to be considered,” he added.  

Thamaga-Kumakwane MP, Mr Palelo Motaosane, had requested for an update on the staffing of Thamaga Primary Hospital.

Mr Motaosane also asked the minister to state the ideal number of doctors required against the current number available as well as the ideal number of nurses required and positions. 

Again, the MP wanted to know what the ministry was doing to remedy shortage of staff in all cadres.

He further wanted to know what happened to the Emergency and Accident project that was supposed to be done at the hospital in 2017 including the 13 staff houses that were promised as part of the project. BOPA