City recruits more nurses

By Mishkah Anthony
8 September 2008

The City of Cape Town is running an initiative to fill the vacancies at its primary health care clinics across the Peninsula.

Recently 51 nursing staff were appointed, but an additional 58 are still needed.

Cllr James Vos, Chairperson of the Health Portfolio Committee says, City Health has employed a dedicated human resource practitioner on a three month contract to assist with the filling of vacancies, mainly for experienced and highly skilled professional nurses.

According to a report to the Health Portfolio Committee, City Health has to undertake the training and development of professional nurses. But Vos says the problem actually starts once the nurses have have attained the necessary training, they are then poached by other sectors offering more competitive salaries.

The municipality has identified four nursing categories as critical scarce skills which enable it to offer more attractive remuneration packages.

"Nurses are under tremendous pressure. No healthcare system can function effectively without sufficient nursing staff. It is imperative that decisive measures are implemented immediately to address this problem," he says.

Vos says he believes there is an urgent need for a concerted programme to persuade young people to enrol for training. They need to be convinced that nursing is a highly respected profession, and salary scales should encourage school leavers to choose this important career.

"Furthermore we should consider re-employing nurses who accepted severance packages but are prepared to return."