Pholosong on my radar – MEC
Gauteng Health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa paid Pholosong Hospital an unannounced visit on Sunday.
Ramokgopa walked into the waiting area and starting chatting with people who were waiting to be attended at casualty.
“She spoke to patients and tried to address some of their concerns,” said Thabisile Mkhwanazi, the hospital’s communications officer.
The aim of the visit was to assess service delivery, as part of the government’s renewed drive to improve health services in the province.
Also read: ‘If you can walk and talk, it is not for the emergency room’ – Pholosong Hospital
The MEC admitted that she has received complaints from the community about the quality of service at Pholosong Hospital.
“Pholosong is on my radar, and I will make sure that all the community’s issues are addressed,” she said.
Professional nurse Bathobile Buthelezi took the opportunity to point out the hospital’s lack of resources.
“Because we do not have all the necessary equipment, patients have to be transferred to either Far East or Joburg General Hospital for computed tomography (CT) scans.”
According to Buthelezi, each patient has to be accompanied by a nurse when they go to another hospital for scans.
She added she was called in to assist because there was only one nurse looking after 43 patients in the surgical ward, due to nurses having to accompany patients for scans.
“We do have some funding for the CT scan,” the MEC said in response.
“And in terms of the staff-patient ratio, especially in the surgical ward, the cause is the issue of the scan.”
Also read: Pholosong commits to upholding the national standards of health care
Ramokgopa noted that one of the main concerns of patients was the waiting period.
Pholosong Hospital is the only regional hospital in Kwatsaduza.
