Bloom said he was barred by security guards from carrying out an inspection visit to the new Vosloorus-based hospital.
“The head of security appeared to be waiting for me, as I had announced that I was going to visit the hospital,” he added.
“He stopped me and my colleague, Dr Neil Campbell (MPL), in the car park, saying that he had to ask management for permission for us to visit.
“When we persisted we were stopped at the security gates, and a man came out and told us very rudely that we could not enter.
“He called Campbell ”a child” and waved his finger threateningly, telling us to ”go to hell”.
“It is utterly appalling that we were barred so aggressively from doing our jobs as elected representatives in checking up on conditions at this hospital.”
Bloom said the reason he was visiting is because Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu had claimed, at a sitting on March 31, that the Electronic Document Management System was working well at the hospital.
This means that in-patients faced only a 13-minute wait, and out-patients a 45-minute wait for service.
“I replied that this was not my observation when I visited the hospital in January, this year, when I saw long queues and patients who said it was better at the old Natalspruit Hospital,” Bloom explained.
”I then said that I would visit the hospital to see for myself.
“What are they trying to hide at the hospital by barring my visit?”
Bloom said that in July, last year, he was escorted out of the Helen Joseph Hospital because the Health MEC’s office said he did not have permission to be there.
“In previous years I have been prevented from entering other hospitals, including Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, where my photograph was posted at the entrances,” he said.
The Gauteng Health Department has not yet responded to our request for comment on this matter.
