MEC blames aging infrastructure for Addington Hospital’s woes
“What we witnessed at Addington Hospital is an indication of a badly run government facility that neglects patients' needs. Patients should not feel like they are treated inhumane like they are animals,”
NEW year and same old story for Addington Hospital with reports that lifts are once again malfunctioning.
Ncamisile Nkwanyana, Inkatha Freedom Party Provincial Spokesperson on Health said the she had been inundated with calls from concerned patients and nurses complaining that they had to use only two lifts in the 16-storey building. “What we witnessed at Addington Hospital is an indication of a badly run government facility that neglects patients’ needs. Patients should not feel like they are treated like they are animals,” she said.
ALSO READ: Addington diverts patients after lifts malfunction
In response, the Department of Health said there were two working lifts and a broken washing machine, but a contractor had been sourced to fix the problems. It said dirty laundry was being sent to the Cato Manor hospital. “It must be noted that Addington Hospital has serious infrastructural challenges due to its age, as well as location along the coast,” said a statement from MEC for Health, Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu.
The department added that overhauling the 140-year-old hospital’s infrastructure would entail closing it down which is not viable, thus making the hospital operate below capacity.
Do you want to receive news alerts via Telegram? Send us a message (not an sms) with your name and surname to 060 532 5535.
You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Berea Mail Telegram number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts
Here’s where you can download Telegram on Android or Apple.
