EC patients rate staff attitudes at dismal 22%
EASTERN Cape hospitals and clinics are, in the main, dirty, with uncaring staff and few procedures in place to ensure the safe treatment of patients, according to a new report.
A countrywide facility audit carried out by the national Health Department scored the province 51%, making it the third worst in the country after Mpumalanga and Northern Cape.
Eastern Cape health department spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said MEC Sicelo Gqobana had experienced the adverse conditions referred to in the report first hand, when he made a surprise visit to the province’s hospitals and clinics.
“He ordered management to take decisive action where necessary. At some hospitals where the MEC has paid a return visit, the picture has changed.”
Eastern Cape hospitals and clinics received particularly low scores for cleanliness, the attitudes of staff when it came to being positive and caring, and patient safety and security.
The survey found the only area where hospitals improved was in waiting times, with a 75% compliance rate of the standards.
Former patients of the Livingstone, Dora Nginza and Provincial hospitals in Port Elizabeth said there were serious concerns over cleanliness and the general bad attitude of some staff, but other doctors and nurses were excellent at their jobs.
“I sadly spent a fair amount of time at Provincial Hospital – and I agree they leave much to be desired in all these categories,” Carol Tuck said.
“We must, however, give credit where it is due and admit there are wonderful doctors and nurses who do their best under difficult circumstances – and there are those who do. “I am grateful to have such a doctor!” The report echoed the concerns of Port Elizabeth Hospital Complex managers Solly Pretorius and Aydin Vehbi, who have previously said they have a shortage of technicians.
The report said there was no working equipment in some of the casualty departments.
The researchers expressed particular concern over the availability of functional and essential medical technology in maternity wards, saying that equipment needed urgent attention.
It also expressed concern over the severe shortage of pharmacists countrywide and said there were acute shortages of essential medicines at most of the facilities.
Eastern Cape hospitals and clinics scored a dismal 22%, when patients were asked to rate staff attitudes.
Patients spent more than 22 hours waiting for a doctor at Livingstone Hospital’s casualty department this week, according to some of them.
Others said they had waited up to 13 hours over the weekend and the reception office was unstaffed for more than an hour while people bled all over the floor.
Ronelle Nel said conditions at the Kabega Park Clinic were bad, with long waiting times and rude staff.
But Provincial Hospital’s oncology and haematology units were praised.
According to the report, only two hospitals countrywide managed to improve their patient safety record since the last audit, while 161 managed better scores in cleanliness and 32 showed improved infection control.