South Africa desperately needs more nurses

 ·12 May 2023

Hospital group Life Healthcare says that unless more nurses are trained to address South Africa’s critical nursing shortage, the country is headed for a health catastrophe.

“There is a scarcity of specialised skills for several reasons,” says Merle Victor, chief nurse officer at Life Healthcare.

“One of (the reasons) is that insufficient training opportunities have been made available. That is a serious problem for our country, considering our burden of disease.

“Additionally, to ensure our patients get adequate care, we need specialist nurses with the appropriate knowledge, competence and skills,” she said.

According to Life Healthcare, South Africa is facing a severe shortage of skilled nurses, impacting the quality and accessibility of healthcare services across the nation.

In South Africa, there is one nurse per 213 people.

The group said that fewer than a third of these nurses are under 40, and within 15 years, 47% of all nurses would have retired. Estimations point to a shortage of between 26,000 and 62,000 professional nurses – but by 2030, it is expected to reach 100,000.

As a result, the company has been investing in training and development and has called on regulators to help.

Peter Wharton-Hood, the group chief executive at Life Healthcare, has noted, however, that there are hurdles to developing skills.

He said that the company has the capacity to train up to 3,000 nurses per annum, which would help address the shortfall, but they are only accredited to train 800.

In May last year, Life Healthcare stated that the nurse shortage requires government intervention for new education requirements and processes that would allow the private sector to meaningfully contribute to the training of nurses.

A year later, the group is still calling on the government to assist.

“If no immediate action is taken, and we cannot develop a sustainable pipeline of nursing talent, the problem is going to get worse. Nurses are the backbone of any healthcare system, and we are being denied the opportunity to invest in the next generation of nurses,” said the group’s chief executive.

“By working together with government, we believe it is possible to create a sustainable solution to the nursing shortage, ensuring access to quality healthcare services,” said Wharton-Hood.

Late last year, the Department of Home Affairs succumbed to public backlash over the crisis and listed nurses among other medical professionals on the revised critical skills list.

This meant that foreign nationals employed in the newly listed occupations may now be eligible for the corresponding work visas and permanent residency.

Despite these efforts, the problem persists.

Life Healthcare added that there needs to be a perspective shift regarding nursing as a career solely for women.

The group reported that there is also a growing trend of men entering the profession.


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