Jack Bloom, MPL and DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC, recently conducted an oversight visit of Tambo Memorial Hospital.
Belinda Bozzoli, DA Political Head for Boksburg East Constituency, ward councillor Marius de Vos, along with the Advertiser accompanied Bloom.
Although Bloom commented on the clear signage and availability of statistics and information on visible boards throughout the hospital, the oversight visit shed light on various issues that need attention.
• Staff shortage
Mavis Malekone, nursing service manager, said there is a big nursing challenge.
“Staff establishment is still the same as it was in 2006,” said Malekone.
According to Dr Vis Naidoo, Tambo Memorial CEO, there is a need for more doctors as well.
“We are short of about 50 which would be ideal, but we are better off than other hospitals,” said Naidoo.
• Infrastructure
It is clear the building is falling apart. To the eye, paint is peeling from the walls, lights are not working and water is dripping from the ceiling.
According to Naidoo, the biggest problem at Tambo Memorial Hospital is the infrastructure.
Late last year, the Gauteng MEC for Health, Gwen Ramokgopa, conceded that there is no saving Boksburg’s 113-year-old Tambo Memorial Hospital.
She has admitted that “most areas” of the hospital contravene the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
This concern goes as far back as June 2015, when the Advertiser reported that the then MEC for Health, Qedani Mahlangu, said a new hospital was on the cards – an announcement that came after a fire had destroyed a storage facility at the hospital just weeks before.
Bloom last year stated that there is no budget for a new hospital which, according to the MEC, will cost at least R800-million.
According to Naidoo, the hospital was supposed to be reconstructed and just as the reconstruction began they were instructed to stop and just patch and paint instead.
“We do our best to improve areas to ensure the best conducive environment in which to operate,” said Naidoo.
• Clinics
Another point of concern was that there are no clinics in Boksburg that are open after hours and during the weekends.
“Patients flood the hospital after 4pm and over the weekends, while they should be able to go to the clinic,” said sister Mashamba Mukondeleli.
• Complaints
There are several complaint boxes all around the hospital as well as signage with contact details of the management and the CEO himself if one needs to lodge a complaint.
“I think there is a good complaints procedure here,” said Bloom.
“The CEO is available, which I can confirm.”
Bloom said all parties should work together and try and address the problems.
“The big problem is the building cannot be fixed in the short term, all the while there is an influx of patients and staff shortage,” said Bloom.
According to Bozzoli, the most important thing is for patients’ complaints to be heard and addressed.
“In this case, it seems like complaints will be addressed by the CEO himself,” said Bozzoli.
More to be done
De Vos is of the view that more should be done by government to make the working conditions of health professionals bearable.
“The high volumes of patients seeking all sorts of treatment at Tambo Memorial is putting lots of strain on both medical equipment and human resources. I’m also concerned about the frequency of cable theft of the feeder electrical cable to the substation at the hospital,” said de Vos.
“What is of grave concern to me at the hospital is the slow pace at which current serving learners is being absorbed into the institution.
“This needs further engagement with the management of the hospital.”
During the oversight visit, it was revealed the average waiting time in the outpatient department is between 32 and 85 minutes.
Regarding treatment received at the hospital, it remains a concern that a needle was left in a victim’s arm, while patients receive the wrong medication, along with the story of the mother who was left traumatised by her premature twins who were seemingly left for dead.
* The Boksburg-Benoni Hospital (BBH) opened its doors to 70 patients on August 17, 1905. The name changed to Tambo Memorial Hospital on April 17, 1997, in honour of Oliver Reginald Tambo.
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