Health Department comments on Tambo Memorial Hospital’s tale of woes

Following our recent story on the ‘sad’ state of Tambo Memorial Hospital, the Gauteng Department of Health has responded to our request for comment on some of the issues we reported on.

Our previous article highlighted several shortcomings, including the crumbling building infrastructure with broken drainage system and decaying walls and ceilings, a proposed facility upgrade, outdated staff structure, a decrease in the services offered, shortages of doctors, skilled nurses and medical material to meet demand, and a surgical backlog.

The health department responded to some of our questions, but infrastructure-related questions were referred to the Department of Infrastructure Development and Property Management.

Here is what the health department spokesperson Kwara Kekana had to say about some of the hospital’s tale of woes:
Do the existing hospital facilities still have the capacity to meet the growing demand or has the demand surpassed capacity?
No. The population growth has increased the demand for health services and there is a need to have more facilities being built even after the renovations.
Will the proposed facility upgrade mean that the department will be required to employ more staff and specialists at the hospital?
The department is in the process of reviewing staff structures. Tambo Memorial hospital has submitted, along with other hospitals, a motivation for a revised structure. The hospital is awaiting the outcome of the review process. There is a need for a revised structure with or without the renovations.
An oversight visit by the DA to the hospital found several shortcomings, including a decrease in the services offered. When will this problem be addressed?
There has been no decrease in services.
Patients are forced to bring their own linen as the laundry appointed by the province does not deliver the services needed. Is the department aware of this issue?
The hospital has in-house cleaning services and the use of a private laundry when there are challenges with linen.
When will the department attend to the surgical backlog of 60 percent and shortages of critical drugs for schedule five upwards?
There are no shortages. There’s a backlog of surgical cases, which has been worsened by Covid-19.
Is it true that the hospital lacks a high-care unit? If so, why? Yes.

Also Read: Tambo Memorial Hospital is rotting away, DA calls for full inspection