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Dr. Richard Friedland, CEO of the private healthcare group Netcare, said they had removed all front-line personnel from leave and were increasing oxygen capacity to cope with the resurgence. He said they were sending more doctors, nurses and healthcare workers to areas of need. He said the group was particularly concerned about Gauteng when tourists returned to the province.
Western Cape Prime Minister Alan Winde said the province was in the process of hiring more than 1,300 healthcare workers as one of the measures to counter the resurgence of the pandemic, which was more devastating than the first wave.
“We have received more than 500 applications as part of this recruiting drive and a dedicated team has been working through this holiday period, contacting applicants to determine their availability and funneling information to the appropriate regions and districts for immediate placement,” he said. .
He added that they had also reached out to the military to make medical personnel available.
Bhaviysha Chendriah, who runs a private nursing agency, said they have been inundated with requests for high-care staff to care for critically ill patients.
“Most of our hospitals were at full capacity with Covid admissions and many staff were testing positive and infecting their families. The rest of the staff are experiencing burnout due to lack of staff and resources, as they work 5/6 days in a row in 12 hour shifts without full PPE.
“My staff tell me they are under pressure. Some nurses are breastfeeding four ventilated patients on their own when it is supposed to be one on one. We are losing staff on a weekly basis now, so much so that the nurses are afraid to even work and choose to stay home. “
Meanwhile, funeral homes and crematoria are stretched to the limit as Covid-19 victims pile up.
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