‘Patients go where we have beds’
Beds in private hospitals are fully occupied and some private patients may therefore be moved to public healthcare facilities.
In a statement last week, Premier Chupu Mathabatha updated the media after a virtual Provincial Coronavirus Command Council meeting was held regarding the province s Covid- management response.
Health MEC, Phophi Ramathuba emphasised that the department places the needs of patients first above all, and said all patients are allowed to use public facilities.
“The truth of the matter is that public facilities are intended for everyone including those who prefer private facilities. We have seen some of our professionals also opting to go to public institutions for treatment as opposed to private institutions.”
According to Ramathuba, the department has signed a memorandum of understanding M with private institutions that will allow them to transfer patients.
“We have received some patients who are settling in well, these are patients that were in need of hospitilisation and are now receiving the care they require.”
)abion Bennet, Hospital Manager at Pholosho Netcare says the institution has not transferred any patients as they still have the capacity to deal with the current patient load.
“We currently have a fluid admission system whereby patients are admitted, they recover and are discharged. We have an understanding with the department where we engage each other based on the needs of our patients. This is not a new thing as we have made use of public services in the past when there was a need.”
He says this arrangement is mutually beneficial as the hospital does not know what the demand of beds will be.
MC Botha, Hospital Manager at Mediclinic Limpopo, says the hospital will follow specific processes should the need arise.
“A formal document has been drafted in the case that some transfers need to be made, but that will only come into play if we are not able to meet the demand from our patients.” , would ma e a decision depending on the se erity oI my condition. ,I , am aEle to ta e remedies or gi en ways to treat the irus while , m at home then , will Ee at home Eut iI my condition is se ere and , need to Ee monitored in a hospital then , would go to a puElic hospital. U R R H 7his would not Ee a challenge Ior me as the matter is to get medical attention and to Ee treated. 7his current situation is so Ead that , would Must Ee grateIul to ha e a hospital Eed. 7his is not a lu ury and any medical care remains a pri ilege. H HPH HU , m pri ileged to Ee on pri ate medical care Eut , Eelie e that in this o id situation you ha e to go where there is space a ailaEle in any hospital. , personally wouldn t mind going to a state hospital iI my liIe depends on it and there is no time to wait. , do thin that medical aid companies should ma e o ygen mas s a ailaEle to their patients to use at home with less critical conditions such as light Ereathing proElems tight chest or light asthma. ,I medical aid would allow to do that mayEe there would Ee more a ailaEle Eeds Ior the most critical patients who are in a liIe or death situation. , Eelie e medical aids should find a way to help in this difficult time. K H JR H , rec on go ernment should ha e long gone through with the processes oI Euilding more hospitals. t the moment they are incapaEle oI catering
Ior and accommodating the people they claim to e ist Ior. ,t s disheartening really and ery unIair. , would Must dri e Eac home and indulge in home remedies to Eetter my health dilemma.