Skills adequacy and service delivery among healthcare professionals at Umphumulo Public Hospital, KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa

Abstract

For decades, South Africa has experienced skills inadequacy challenges and poor service delivery in the health sector, and the case of Umphumulo Hospital is of particular concern. In many organisations, there is a strong link between skills adequacy and service delivery quality. The shortage of skilled healthcare professionals negatively affects employees' performances and denies South Africans quality healthcare services in public hospitals. Using data from unstructured interviews with 32 participants, this article examined the state of service delivery in Umphumulo Hospital. It also evaluated the coping skills of healthcare workers and assessed whether relevant skills were adequately shared among health professionals in the quest to enhance service delivery in the hospital. The study found compelling evidence of poor service delivery, employers’ display of unprofessionalism, and policy-gaps in the health sector. In conclusion, it is the government’s responsibility to promote human capacity building programmes and commit the required financial resources for the optimal functioning of public hospitals.