Shortages crippling KH
WALKERS, antibiotics, suction liners, cautery pads and washing powder are some of the items on the inventory list that are not stocked on the shelves at Kimberley Hospital.
During the Department of Health budget debate yesterday, it was highlighted how the hospital was unable to function due to a shortage of basic necessities, and lives were being placed at risk.
DA spokesman on Health, Dr Isak Fritz, stated that patients undergoing hip, knee and leg surgery were advised to purchase their own walkers if they wished to be mobile, or face the risk of undoing the operative procedures that they had waited so long to undergo.
“About four weeks ago, certain antibiotics were out of stock at Kimberley Hospital (KH). This placed patients who underwent surgery at risk of developing sepsis, as prophylactic antibiotics are given as a preventative measure after operations,” said Fritz.
“At around the same time, there was also a shortage of suction liners that are used by surgeons while operating in theatre to suck up blood. As a result, only life-threatening cases were operated on.
“Then the hospital ran out of cautery pads, which are used to stop bleeding. Once again, only lifethreatening cases were operated on.”
He added that about six weeks ago, KH also ran out of washing powder.
“This in turn meant that the hospital had no clean linen, so the hospital once again stopped nonlife-threatening operations because sterile drapes are needed for operations and instruments need to be wrapped in clean sheets to be sterilised.”
Fritz advised that KH was at risk of non-compliance to the Tertiary Hospital service package due to staffing and budget constraints.
“The hospital faces the possible discontinuation of services, which in turn threatens its Tertiary Hospital status.”
He stated that the CEO of KH had acknowledged that the hospital was in “dire financial straits” during a legislature portfolio committee meeting two weeks ago.
“He conceded that the hospital had run out of money and had stopped paying suppliers and hence suppliers had stopped delivering.
“This is not the picture of an efficient healthcare system. This is the picture of deficient planning and poorly informed decision making.”
Fritz added that the costs of relocating the two theatres from KH to the Curomed building had resulted in overspending.
“If this government can’t even manage its current health portfolio, what then of the National Health Insurance, which will see this department having to manage an even greater pool of money,” he asked.
Fritz stated that the implementation of the LOGIS procurement system required ICT connectivity and required a dedicated team of trained staff to operate it effectively.
“The department doesn’t have sufficient funds to upgrade its ICT network, nor does it have enough funds to appoint the number of administrative personnel required to ensure that LOGIS becomes operational.
“In the words of the department, ‘this is going to be a mess’.”
Fritz indicated that the department did not have a budget to operationalise or appoint skilled staff at either the De Aar Hospital or the new Kimberley Mental Hospital.
“But even more mind-boggling is the fact that the new mental hospital is so long overdue that what was intended to be classified as a state-of-the-art facility is already outdated.”
He recommended that psychiatric units be established at exist- ing facilities across the Province, instead of constructing a “monumental disaster”.
“The same applies to the TB Hospital in West End, given that there is also a process under way to decentralise TB services countrywide.”
Fritz pointed out that hospital acquired infections had risen to a total of 46 cases which were reported between April 2015 and January 2016.
“It is therefore not surprising that personnel and patients are increasingly exposed to Drug Resistant TB because of poor infection control measures.”
Fritz said the department had not stabilised the high vacancy rate of medical officers, medical specialists, professional nurses and pharmacists.
“At last count, the department had only one forensic nurse operating in the entire Province, in spite of the high rate of sexual offences in the Northern Cape.
“The EMS College faces possible loss of accreditation as a training facility due to the department’s inability to appoint high-skilled lecturers, as well as a lack of telephones and internet connectivity.
“Forensic medical services face the potential risk of discontinuation due to the failure by the department to implement Forensic Pathology Service Guidelines at mortuaries, as well as failure to provide clothing and cleaning chemicals at facilities and the installation of generators and fridges at facilities.”
The Northern Cape Department of Health’s successes, including the fact that the Province’s HIV prevalence rate (17.5 percent) is the second lowest in the country, was meanwhile lauded by the ANC.
The party’s provincial secretary, Zumani Saul, pointed out that the number of people who receive HIV treatment in the Province had doubled over the last four years.
“Significant progress has also been made in the implementation of the NHI in the Pixley ka Seme district and the roll-out of some of the interventions to other districts such as the establishment of wardbased teams, connectivity in facilities, etc.,” Saul added.
“Progress has also been made with regard to the establishment of satellite nursing colleges, while the De Aar Hospital has been practically completed and the Mental Health Hospital will also be reaching the stage of practical completion by the end of the financial year.
“The ANC notes that the Department of Health has made notable progress in improving its internal controls and systems, despite the lingering challenges in so far as financial management is concerned. We must look at the positive side that the department has for two successive years received qualified audits after numerous disclaimers.” Department unable to pay suppliers on time, says MEC