The Botswana Nurses Union (BONU) has raised concerns about patient safety and working conditions at Sefhophe Clinic after its conversion into a 24-hour health facility, saying the service was expanded without adequate staff to meet the demands of round-the-clock care.
The union said the clinic was operating with only five nurses and one midwife, a staffing complement it considers inadequate for a facility expected to provide continuous services, respond to emergencies and meet the healthcare needs of surrounding communities.
BONU condemned what it described as the ‘premature and untimely conversion’ of the clinic, warning that extending operating hours without increasing the workforce could undermine the quality of care and place healthcare workers under excessive pressure. ‘Expanding operating hours without providing sufficient healthcare personnel raises serious concerns about the quality of care, patient safety and the welfare of our members,’ the union said.
The dispute highlights a challenge facing efforts to expand access to healthcare as keeping facilities open for longer does not necessarily translate into better services if staffing and operational capacity fail to keep pace.
BONU said the six nursing staff members faced the prospect of managing continuous services with insufficient personnel, increasing the risk of excessive workloads, fatigue and burnout. The union did not provide patient-volume figures or a detailed staffing assessment for the clinic.
It also questioned whether the decision had been implemented before the necessary staffing requirements and operational arrangements were addressed.
‘A healthcare facility cannot be expected to function effectively on a 24-hour basis simply by extending its operating hours,’ the statement said. The union stressed that it supported efforts to improve access to healthcare in Sefhophe and neighbouring communities but argued that expanded services must be accompanied by sufficient nurses and midwives.
‘Nurses cannot be expected to compensate for staffing shortages through excessive workloads and personal sacrifice,’ BONU said, adding that healthcare workers’ commitment to serving the public should not substitute for proper planning and recruitment.
The union demanded a comprehensive assessment of the facility’s staffing needs, patient volumes, emergency-response capacity and operational requirements. BONU further urged the ministry to ensure that nurses and midwives have safe working conditions, reasonable workloads, adequate rest periods and the resources needed to perform their duties.
The union said the health and safety of patients must not be compromised and healthcare workers must not be placed in an untenable working environment.