06 Mar 2014

Laundry staff who used to work at S’brana Hospital were not unofficially transferred to Athlone Hospital, Parliament has been told.

Responding to a parliamentary question on March 4, Assistant Minister of Health, Dr Gloria Somolekae said laundry services were outsourced at S’ brana Hospital in August 2011, hence its laundry staff was transferred to Athlone. The staff was transferred on their present scales and this was done in writing, she said.

Prior to their actual transfer, Dr Somolekae said the officers were consulted through meetings between themselves, ministry officials, Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM) and Manual Workers Union. “Based on the process followed, these transfers were official,” she said.

Dr Somolekae told the house that the staff never assisted Drytex Company instead, following persistent break downs of Athlone laundry machine; a decision was made in December 2012 to expand the scope of work for Drytex Company to include Athlone.

This, he said, was seen to be cost effective, considering the proximity and work load. She said the arrangement was such that laundry staff at Athlone would collect dirty linen from the wards to a particular location and Drytex Company would collect the dirty linen and deliver clean linen on a daily basis.

The assistant minister said the laundry staff was then responsible for distributing this clean linen to the wards. However, Dr Somolekae told the house that since December 2013, Drytex Company has taken the entire laundry services for the entire Lobatse District Health Management Team which included S’ brana, Athlone and clinics with maternity wings.

She said collection in the wards and distribution of clean linen is included in their scope of work.

Dr Somolekae was responding to a question asked by the Member of Parliament for Lobatse, Mr Nehemiah Modubule who wanted to know why the laundry staff who used to work at S’ brana Hospital were unofficially transferred to Athlone Hospital.

He also asked the minister why the said staff was then made to assist the Drytex Company at Athlone Hospital. ENDS