Kariega Hospital on Brink of Collapse: Nurses Threaten Strike Over Staff Shortage and Unpaid Overtime
By Phumlani Saul
Kariega Hospital, formerly known as Uitenhage Provincial Hospital, is facing a crippling staff shortage, pushing nurses to the breaking point. Overworked and underpaid, they are now threatening to down tools unless the Eastern Cape Health Department addresses the critical shortage of workers and settles outstanding overtime payments.
The hospital’s understaffing has resulted in an unbearable workload for the remaining nurses, forcing them to assume additional responsibilities. Exhausted and demoralized, they claim that the department’s inaction has left them no choice but to consider industrial action.
Nurse told Daily Kasi News “We’re at a breaking point,” , who wished to remain anonymous. “We can’t keep shouldering the burden of inadequate staffing. Patient care is suffering, and our well-being is at risk.”
The nurses’ grievances include:
- Chronic understaffing: Insufficient personnel to manage patient load.
- Unpaid overtime: Staff have not received compensation for extra hours worked.
- Increased workload: Remaining staff must take on additional responsibilities.
The Eastern Cape Health Department has been urged to:
- Recruit more staff to alleviate the workload.
- Settle outstanding overtime payments.
- Improve working conditions.
Failure to address these concerns may lead to a full-scale strike, compromising patient care and exacerbating the hospital’s crisis.
The provincial health department has promised to investigate the matter, but nurses remain skeptical. “We’ve heard promises before,” said the nurse. “This time, we need action.”
As the situation unfolds, patients and the community hold their breath, hoping for a swift resolution to ensure quality healthcare and prevent a catastrophic collapse of Kariega Hospital.
Daily Kasi News 