Gauteng sets up exchange programme for nurses
Nurses in Gauteng may soon be able to work in Britain as part of an exchange programme being negotiated by the provincial government.
Gauteng’s head of health services, Dr Laetitia Rispel, said while the “finer details” of the exchange programme were still being finalised with Kings College in Britain, she was “very excited” by the idea.
Rispel said the exchange programme was “very attractive”, as it would allow nurses the opportunity to work overseas to gain experience but also ensure that their skills would not be lost to the province.
The exchange would be for a minimum of three months and Gauteng would guarantee the posts of nurses on their return.
Gauteng was particularly interested in nurses being trained to better manage the flow of patients in casualty and how to deal with patients who needed high care.
“If the pilot exchange programme works well, we may want to extend it to other hospitals,” said Rispel.
Hundreds of qualified South African nurses, whose training has been subsidised by tax payers, have been lured to countries such as Britain and Saudi Arabia by better salaries and working conditions.
– Health-e News Service.
Author
Free to Share
