THE NURSING BILL

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THE NURSING BILL

• PRESENTATION TO THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL
  SERVICES
• COMMITTEE ROOM GH41
• GOODHOPE BUILDING
• 08 MARCH 2005
• TRMDLALOSE

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HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF SANC

• Before 1944 nurses were regulated under the
  Medical and Dental Council .
• In 1944 the first Council was established.
• In 1957 the second Act followed based on racial
  lines.
• In 1978 the Nursing Act no.50 of 1978 was passed.

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HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF SANC

• In 1994 the existing four Nursing Councils were
  disbanded and an Interim Nursing Council was
  established to prepare for a democratic permanent
  Council.
• In 1998 the first democratic Council was
  inaugurated.
• The term of office was 5 years.

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HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF SANC

• The second democratic elected Council was
  inaugurated in June 2003 and and its term of
  office ends in May 2008.
• The Council currently consists of 39 members.

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BACKGROUND OF THE NURSING BILL

• The process to transform the Council was
  initiated in 1994.
• In November 2001 the Minister of Health
  accelerated the process by appointing a task team
  consisting of members from professional and
  technical Councils as well as the Department of
  Health to look at the transformation of Statutory
  Councils.

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BACKGROUND OF THE NURSING BILL

• Some of the recommendations of the TT are as
  follows
• - The main purpose of Professional Councils is
  to protect and promote the publics interests,
  including ensuring delivery of quality care.
• - Introduction of good corporate governance.
• - Introduction of the Charter for Council
  members.

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BACKGROUND OF THE NURSING BILL

• - Council to be receptive to community and
  public interests.
• - Smaller but more productive Councils.
• The Nursing Bill has incorporated these
  recommendations.
• The Bill was published for a period of 3 months
  for public comments from December 2003 to March
  2004.

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CHAPTER 1 OF THE NURSING BILL

• Deals with definitions in the Bill.
• Definitions in line with those in the National
  Health Act, 2003 (Act no 61 of 2003).
• Important features
• - The word nurse to be used only by someone
  registered with the Nursing Council.
• - Staff Nurse replaces Enrolled Nurse since
  all nurses will have one register.
• - Rolls for lower categories abolished.

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CHAPTER 2 OF THE NURSING BILL

• Deals with continued existence, objects,
  functions and powers of the SANC.
• Main feature is that Council exist to serve and
  protect the interests of the public not the
  nurses.
• Section 5 deals with the composition and
  dissolution of Council.
• Number reduced from 39 to 25.
• Members appointed by the Minister but
• nominated by interest groups.

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CHAPTER 2 CONTINUES

• Chairperson appointed by the Minister.
• Members can serve for a maximum of 10 years.
• Minister has powers to dissolve the Council if it
  fails to comply with the provisions of the Act.
• Section 12 deals with the introduction of the
  disciplinary appeal committee.

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CHAPTER 2 CONTINUES

• Section 14 deals with corporate governance which
  spells out the responsibilities of the Council
  and that of the Registrar.

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CHAPTER 3 OF THE NURSING BILL

• Deals with Education, Training, Research,
  Registration and Practice.
• The main features are to bring Nursing Education
  and training in line with the National
  Qualifications Framework (NQF)and related
  Legislation.
• The Council will keep a single register for all
  practitioners as opposed to a register and a
  roll.
• The revised scope of the profession will be one
  of the main features.

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CHAPTER 3 CONTINUES

• Section 36 makes provision for the introduction
  of Continued Professional Development.
• Section 37 makes provision for introduction of
  community service for nurses registering for the
  first time.

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CHAPTER 4 OF THE NURSING BILL

• Deals with powers of the Council with regard to
  professional conduct.
• Section 43 deals with powers to institute an
  inquiry into any complaint against a Director,
  Manager or owner of an agency registered in terms
  of this Act.
• Section 48 deals with impairment.
• Section 49 deals with powers of Council to enter
  any institution or premises whose learners are
  trained therein and to confiscate any documents/
  objects

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CHAPTER 5 OF THE NURSING BILL

• Deals with penalties for non regulated
  individuals, false representation and
  impersonation.

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CHAPTER 6 OF THE NURSING BILL

• Deals with special provisions relating to certain
  nurses and midwives.
• Section 55 establishes the Appeals Committee
  against Council decision.
• Section 56 deals with a list of Regulations to be
  promulgated by the Minister after consultation
  with the Council.

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IMPLICATION OF THE BILL

• If passed into law the present Council will be
  dissolved and a new Council put in place.

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SANC MEMBERSHIP

• Statistics as on 31 December 2003
• Professional Nurses/ Midwives 96,715
• Enrolled Nurses/ Midwives - 33,575
• Enrolled Nursing Auxiliaries - 47,431
• TOTAL -177,721