District hospital ‘under pressure’

THE provincial health department has conceded its services at the Khayelitsha District Hospital are under pressure and the “huge demand” for beds results in patients with non-life threatening conditions sometimes having to wait longer.

This after health activists picketed outside the hospital to highlight the “ongoing crisis” facing the facility and demanding urgent intervention by the provincial health department.

The department’s Khayelitsha and Eastern substructure spokesperson Sithembiso Magubane said the hospital has 300 beds but operates at a 130% bed occupancy rate as it provides district and regional health care. “The hospital does refer patients to other specialist hospitals when they require further specialist treatment.

“There are a number of plans and interventions planned to improve the hospital’s services. Some have been put into operation, others are in process of implementation.”

Magubane said the department would release its updated plans next week.

Health MEC Nomafrench Mbombo had a discussion with Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) members last month “to personally respond to their concerns”, and steps to address the concerns were submitted.

TAC provincial chairperson Vuyani Macotha said complaints about the hospital showed a bleak picture of overcrowding, staff shortages, poor staff attitude and neglect of patients, a shortage of beds, and people forced to sleep on the floors.

He said the hospital was built to serve a population of 400 000, whereas the Khayelitsha population now stands at about 2 million.

“What is particularly appalling is the responses seen on videos trending of nurses, saying they are not going to be reprimanded for their actions, so they are not worried. Where is the accountability?”

People in Khayelitsha were frustrated because their complaints were not attended to, Macotha said.