“Better remuneration in the private sector and the opportunity for self-employment” is the primary reason for a shortage of nurses at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. That’s what the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Jack Bloom said he was told when he queried a shortfall of 364 nurses‚ and a total of 436 vacancies in all staff positions‚ at the facility.Bloom said that while Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu says that “there has been no impact on patient care related to the loss of staff as vacant posts have been filled”‚ he remained “concerned by the nursing shortage at the hospital which surely does affect the quality of patient care”.“Many nurses are close to retirement age‚ so more training and recruitment is needed to fill the nursing posts at this major hospital‚” added Bloem.The DA politician’s comments were swiftly followed by a statement from Qedani’s office that “assured the public that the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital continues to thrive and render quality services despite losing clinical staff pursuing better opportunities in the private sector”. It noted that while there were 364 nursing vacanies‚ 2201 post were filled‚ and added: “…We can reassure the public that there has been no impact on patient care related to the loss of skilled staff as vacant posts are filled timeously.”Qedanis also revealed that “Thelle Mogoerane Hospital in Vosloorus‚ Ekurhuleni has also experienced staff departures due to similar reasons”.“At Thelle Mogoerane many staff departures can be attributed to personal reasons such as promotions‚ work overload and distance between home and work place. This however‚ has not affected patient care as patients are referred to tertiary facilities whenever the need arises‚” she added. “It should be noted that the facility is in the process of expanding the training platform by appointing registrars and consultants in neurosurgery‚ general surgery‚ urology and internal medicine jointly with the University of the Witwatersrand.“The aim of this partnership is to enhance clinical skills and offer more specialised services in the hospital.”Qedani’s statement also noted that Thelle Mogoerane’s “high bed occupancy rate which leads to work overload”. – TMG Digital..