Hospital managers will ensure in future that their facilities are clean and tidy at all times, Minister of Health Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said on Friday.
This was one of the outcomes of a two-day workshop in Pretoria between managers and government officials to find ways of improving service delivery.
The minister said managers have undertaken to do regular rounds, and the government trusts they will live up to their promises.
”Obviously there will be some discipline involved. If they find things are not being done, they must take the necessary steps.”
This will go hand-in-hand with a campaign to make the public more aware of their own contribution to keeping hospitals clean.
From the government’s side, the minister promised that the necessary equipment will be budgeted for.
She said there will be further discussions on infection control in hospitals and a renewed focus on a so-called ”hand-washing campaign” encouraging hygienic practices among health workers and hospital visitors.
”The national infection-control policy is being reviewed to ensure that it effectively assists all stakeholders to deal with this issue,” Tshabalala-Msimang told reporters.
The Department of Health is also finalising a draft policy on service quality, which should be ready by mid-December.
On discipline, she said a special meeting should be held between representatives of organised labour and professional councils ”to ensure that we all have a common approach in improving performance”.
A lack of discipline was one of the problems highlighted by hospital managers in the two-day discussions.
Managers have resolved to be decisive in instilling discipline, the minister said.
”There is a need to monitor performance and ensure that every employee performs his or her duties effectively.”
Managers should also make an effort to improve relations among staff, management, boards and communities.
Tshabalala-Msimang said steps to improve working conditions should be intensified — including better accommodation and safety.
On long queues at hospitals and pharmacies, inadequate referral practices were raised as a concern.
Members of the public should be encouraged to use their local clinics as first point of contact — allowing hospitals to focus on referred cases, the minister said. — Sapa