Nursing Shortage Affects Patients

December 10 - In an effort to remain within budget, provincial governments are cutting back on nurse training and this process is affecting the number of professional nurses in South Africa.

The private sector hopes to step into the niche where this shortage exists to train nurses, however the licensing application process is so long and complicated that private hospitals are asking the government for its assistance.

"We want to play our part and help with the training of nurses, but the application process is long and over complicated," said the Chief Executive Officer of National Hospital Network, Otto Wypkema.

Wypkema heads the network of private hospitals that incorporates 88 independent hospitals, psychiatric clinics and day clinics.

Wypkema said that fifty percent of the group's operational expenses are salaries and its costs are being driven steadily higher by the shortage of nurses.

"In the past, the Council for Medical Schemes has been very critical of increasing costs in private hospitals," noted Wypkema.

Those who wish to study to become a nurse need to make an application through the South African Nursing Council to the Department of Education.

The Council registers and licenses training facilities for nurses and checks the level of education available at these facilities.

The National Hospital Network is the fourth largest private hospital group in South Africa and represents nearly 20% of the private sector hospital beds in the country.

The group offers superior healthcare to its clients at competitive rates. Its demographic footprint includes major cities in South Africa, including Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth.