The Public Servants Association (PSA) has criticised
disciplinary action launched against eight emergency medical services (EMS)
employees who refused to assist a Covid-19 patient.
The employees are based at Grey’s Hospital in
Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal.
In a statement, the PSA said the employees were on
night-shift duty, which starts at 7pm, and were informed by the shift
supervisor that a patient in Northdale had tested positive for Covid-19 and had
to be transported to the hospital by ambulance.
“They then raised serious concerns with the supervisor as
there was no personal protective equipment [PPE] supplied. They also raised
concern about the fact that they never received training on handling Covid-19
patients,” said the association.
It is alleged that the night-shift supervisor failed to
provide the employees with answers or the protective gear required to treat the
Covid-19 patient and instead called in a district manager.
The manager arrived at about 10pm and deliberated with
employees but still did not provide the required gear. Instead, the decision
was taken to charge all eight employees for failing to take a lawful
instruction.
The KZN health department said this was untrue and an
exaggeration.
“As a matter of principle, the department does not publicly
discuss labour relations matters that are between employer and employee,” said
spokesperson Ntokozo Maphisa.
“That said, we can confirm that this is an old
misunderstanding that has long been exhausted, which certainly does not warrant
this level of distortion of facts and grandstanding.
“Allegations concerning the 'non-training' of EMS personnel
or their purported lack of access to PPE are not true.” Times
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