Dear Readers We have come to the end of yet another year! Looking back to the year gone by a lot has happened; we got our first Hospital Manager, the Opening of the Siyanakekela Crisis Centre, the Long Service Awards, the Open Day, the training of the Batho Pele Executives etc. I think we can safely say that we have achieved some of our goals in the implementa-tion Batho Pele. As we approach the festive season we look forward to a time of peace and happiness for all the employees of GJ Crookes Hospi-tal and District. May the Lord keep and protect each and everyone of you, so that we start the new year with enthusiasm and readiness to serve our customers with the dignity and respect that they deserve. I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every member of the staff for making this institution and district a place conducive to healing to all our clients Regards TG MKHIZE

GJ CROOKES HOSPITAL

ASIKHULUME — LET’S TALK

Volume 4 Issue 4

27 December 2002

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Happy reading !

1 Welcome & Ugu North Sub-District Report

2 Open Day Ceremony

3 Rural Visit

4 Info page

5 From Suggestions/Complaints Boxes

POINTS OF INTEREST

Ugu North Sub-District Report

SEXUAL ABSTINENCE WALK

Youth groups from around the sub-district embarked on an HIV/Aids awareness campaign. Emphasizing absti-nence from sex among the youth at least until they are mature enough to make informed decisions on sexual matters.

50 Youth (both male and female) participated in the walk supported by the health department, starting from Zembeni tribal authority (Dududu) to Umzinto on 29 November 2002 ( + 20km distance).

They slept at Umzinto Clinic on Friday and took part in the District Aids Day 2002 event hosted at Umzinto sports grounds on Saturday 30 November 2002.

Messages around HIV/Aids prevention, care and support were conveyed to approximately 1500 community mem-bers.

Seven youth group members were awarded certificates of appreciation by the health sub-district for their in-put in the HIV/Aids programmes.

WRITTEN BY: PV NTULI

Page 2 GJ CROOKES HOSPITAL

Open Day Ceremony WRITTEN BY: KEVIN REDDY

On the 22/11/2002 GJ Crookes Hospital held an Open Day Ceremony at the hospital. A huge mar-quee was set up outside the Outpatients Depart-ment. The function was opened in prayer by Mr Mathew Pillay. Mr RP Appadu, the MC for the function welcomed all guests, members of public and staff.He then in-troduced Dr K Volker, our (Acting) Medical Man-ager who gave a brief talk on the general status of the hospital. After her informative talk the follow-ing departments: Scotties Social Club, Siyanakek-ela Crisis Centre, Occupational Health and Safety Service, District Office and Gateway Clinic were highlighted by members of staff who were repre-senting those departments. They gave a brief run-down of the departments and its function and how it will promote service delivery, to our patients, visitors and community. After the formalities the guests and members of the public were taken on a guided tour to the depart-ments officially launched, to obtain first hand in-formation on the functioning of the departments. The function ended with a lunch, which was served at Scotties Social Club for all invited guests and members of the public. Congratulations to the “Batho Pele Executives” and all of those who were involved in this mammoth task and making it the success it was. Well done!

From left to right: Mrs Sishi, Dr Volker , Mr Ramasar (Board Member), Mr Appadu

Sr Nzama explaining about the Employee

Assistant Programme

All enjoying a lovely lunch catered by our Catering Department

The Hospital Choir

Volume 4 Issue 4 Page 3

RURAL VISIT Written by: Viviana The day Tuesday 30 July 2002 was a beautiful day. This was the day that had been organized, following a meeting between OPD and J Ward, to try and improve the service delivery to immuno-compromised patients. The group consisted of Mrs Nyawo, Dr Andreone, Sr Ndwandwe, Mr Vusi Ntuli and two voluntary workers, whom we picked up on the way, Mr Mathe the driver and myself. Loaded with home based packs and sup-plies, we loaded the Condor vehicle and off we went. We drove past Philani Clinic, and stopped to see the sister in charge, who showed us around the clinic. This was the old Dududu clinic and the staff were looking forward to moving to their new clinic in the near future. We eventually arrived at Khuzwayo Store in the Umkhunga area where we parked the vehicle, and loaded with home based packs and supplies we began our “trek” on foot to the first family the volun-tary workers had arranged for us to see. After one and a half hours of walking, with the volun-tary workers telling us that the family was “just past those trees.” “Just around the next hill.” “Just after those huts.” I asked Sr Ndwandwe to ask them in Zulu, thinking that they did not un-derstand English very well, where these “blessed” huts were! How much further? She answered out of breath “Ha, Sr Webb, I’m not even going to ask them again!” eventually and unbelievably we arrived at a group of kraals.. We were warmly welcomed by the Makoti’s and taken to the central hut where a Gogo was sitting up on a mattress on the floor. We discussed their last visit to hospital and the treatment they’d received. They were disappointed that the Gogo hadn’t been admitted. We explained that we are unable to admit patients with minor illnesses as there are many patients who are critically ill who will use those beds. They felt happier after the explanation. We dis- pensed medication and gave them a home pack and on wobbly legs proceeded to walk to

Mkhize Store, where Mr Mathe had arranged to meet us. The weather had at this stage had become overcast,

windy and cold. We proceeded to walk towards what appeared to

me to look like Mount Everest. At the very top we could make out tiny buildings in fact, from where we stood, they looked like toy buildings, and there the voluntary workers told us, our driver, Mr Mathe was waiting for us. We had two choices at this stage. Carry on and try and negoti-ate this sheer mountain and perhaps sustain some frac- tures but then at least we could be air-lifted home, or ask for some hospitality from the kraals we were busy passing on our upward climb. The African women were so excited when they saw our party. Maybe they even thought they were having hallucinations be-cause here, in the middle of nowhere, were two umlungus! As we huffed and puffed our way, and the first drops of rain began to fall, we heard resounding cries around the hills.. All I could make out was the word motor, motor. I said to Dr Andreone, “What motor?” there isn’t even any-thing that resembles a road here. But as we turned back towards where the African women were shouting, there was Mr Mathe in our gorgeous transport. Never was a sight more welcome! We took a photo, climbed into the vehicle and off we went! I won’t describe the road we went on with sheer drops of quite a significant distance, that were we to roll off our fates would have been sealed! We slowly made our way until we came to a proper road. The voluntary workers were off loaded at their destinations, near their houses and we decided we’d better have some lunch. By this stage it was 15:00 hours. We were tired, cold, hungry, but cheerful, especially as Sr Ndwandwe pro-duced delicious fresh cheese and salad rolls, cool drinks to quench our thirst, chips and sweets for dessert. What more could our expedition team have wanted. We were taken to the next two families by vehicle and the same procedure was followed. We arrived back at GJ Crookes Hos-pital at 16:00 hours. The weather by now, was bitterly cold. We were glad to be back home. The day was enjoyed by all.!

One of the families we visited.

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Our most welcome transport!

Note to self: Next time we arrange a rural visit, remem-ber to book a couple of horses to meet us where we park the vehicle and equip myself with mountaineering gear!

Page 4 GJ CROOKES HOSPITAL

INFORMATON PAGE!

Achievement Congratulations! Ann Fayers passed her Phar-macy Assistant’s course with a distinction. Ann is currently employed in the Pharmacy Di-vision as a Senior Admin. Clerk.

She undertook this course of her own accord. Well done Ann!

Appreciation from Ocean View

Crew

I would like to thank GJ Crookes

Hospital staff for all their support to

the Ocean View students during

our training. We have been moti-

vated to go forward with our stud-

ies. Above all, the spiritual support we

got was tremendous. Keep up the

Word of the Lord my brothers and

sisters! Mbuso Fabin Dubazxana

Group C

Left to right: Angela Camp, Mr Upton Nyawose

Employee of the Month Awards::

The Quarterly Employee Awards for Service Excellence for September went to

the following personnel:

Nursing Division: CPN GN Mkhize

Admin. Support & Ancillary Services: Mrs A Camp

General Services Workers: Mr Upton Nyawose

Congratulations once more to the above staff members Keep up the good work.!

The next nominations are due at the end of December 2002.

Volume 4 Issue 4 Page 5

FROM THE SUGGESTION/COMPLAINT BOXES

H ere are responses from the supervisors to some of the complaints that were published in the previous newsletter.

OPD 1. No enthusiasm to help, there was no queue. One guy I asked for help shook his head in no direc-

tion, with a match in his ear. Really pathetic. Response: Due to the fact that the complainant did not mention the date, the area the incident occurred in or if the male he addressed was dressed in uniform or not which would have identified him as a staff member, it makes it difficult to deal with this complaint. This institution stands by the Batho Pele principles and encourages all staff to support these principles at all times. 2. As a patient I need to communicate with the doctor that will be treating me. But to my surprise

there is this doctor who can’t even hear a word of English. Please get people that are capable of helping and not being there for the sake of a salary.

Response: We apologize if patients have not felt heard during their consultation. Good communication is not everyone's gift. Unfortunately at present we have little choice in the doctors we employ, as we are extremely short staffed. We have had few enquires by doctors about coming to work at GJ Crookes Hospital. Mostly these doctors want promotion posts, and these have to be advertised ant he usual selection criteria followed when such posts are available. We have to employ doctors that are available, otherwise all the other doctors will become too stressed and may become ill or leave as a result . In the ideal situation doctors would be given duties accord-ing to their competencies and gifts. However this is a luxury not within our reach at present. H Ward 1. We are encountering problems of patients not registered up until discharge. Clerks are not coming

to the ward to follow up on patients admitted during the night. Please re-arrange and sort out this problem.

Response: Problem resolved, night clerks now on duty. Patient Admin.(Admitting): 1. Why can’t you keep to one system and stick to it, and follow through with that system. I have been

coming here for 8 years and no one tells you when the system has changed. It is worse, not better. Response: Various parties have expressed their wishes with regard to changing the system used by the Admit-ting Department. In the spirit of serving our clients in the best way possible, some changes were made on a trial basis in order to measure its practicality. Some were found to be effective and some not. Normally posters are displayed, fliers handed out to patients and the Admitting staff are also expected to inform patients verbally of the changes taking place. We are aware of the fact that there has been some lack of communication in this regard and will ensure that information regarding impending changes is made public beforehand.

Staff are reminded to please use the correct channels of communication for their grievances/suggestions!

Wishing all staff Seasons Greetings

And Best Wishes for the New Year!