Allegations brought forward – Mediclinic Ermelo responds
He indicated the following day, 7 July, that their cooperate communication’s and legal departments were perusing his feedback and that response would be given soon.
The Covid-19 pandemic has swept through countries, crippled economies, indiscriminately taken lives and caused much distress and uncertainty worldwide.
Ermelo and its residents have not been unaffected.
ALSO READ: Ermelo MediClinic hospital manager says all systems are go regarding Covid-19
According to a reliable source within the medical sector, staff at Mediclinic Ermelo have allegedly tested positive for the virus.
The Highvelder therefore sent an email to Mr Charles Vilane, general hospital manager at Mediclinic Ermelo, and asked whether he could confirm any cases pertaining to staff and patients who tested positive.
ALLEGATIONS
He was also asked to respond to two independent sources’ allegations:
- A staff member who tested positive was allegedly transferred to a different hospital
- People who tested positive are allegedly shown away from the hospital and are told that no Covid-19 patients will be admitted
- The hospital was disinfected after positive cases were reported
- The hospital was allegedly not closed during the disinfecting of the hospital and this was apparently carried out while staff and patients were still in the hospital
- No tests can be conducted at Ampath without a person being referred by a doctor
- Staff who tested positive for Covid-19 allegedly continue to work, this is said to have resulted in some staff not coming to work or having called in sick
- Only half of the staff showed up for work on Friday, 3 July.
Mr Vilane contacted the Highvelder and explained that the whole world was experiencing this pandemic and positive cases were increasing everywhere.
“Different provinces at different times are experiencing the upsurge of Covid-19,”
The Highvelder asked whether he could perhaps respond to the allegations via email as to avoid misquoting him, to which he agreed.
He indicated the following day, 7 July, that their cooperate communication’s and legal departments were perusing his feedback and that response would be given soon.
RESPONSE
A response was obtained on 15 July and the Highvelder was requested to attribute the release to Dr Stefan Smuts, Chief Clinical Officer of Mediclinic Southern Africa.
The press release stated:
“Mediclinic has put measures in place to ensure the safety of patients, staff and doctors.
These measures are guided by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) as well as the World Health Organization (WHO).
In addition we have introduced random testing of all staff working within our hospitals to detect asymptomatic individuals to further reduce the risk of transmission.
Mediclinic Ermelo can confirm that although staff members have tested positive, no diagnosed Covid-19 positive staff members have continued to work in the hospital.
Any staff member testing positive is sent home and will not return to work until it is safe to do so.
These staff members are monitored on a daily basis by their manager as well as the Department of Health.
In addition, we constantly reinforce to staff the need for frequent environmental cleaning of contact surfaces, as well as the wearing of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), social distancing and frequent hand hygiene.
This must be done in conjunction with frequent environmental cleaning and hand hygiene.
Deep cleaning is however a vital part of our daily strategy to contain the virus.
To further reduce the risk to all stakeholders we have separate Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 related treatment areas, and patients are tested on admission to understand their condition.
Until their status is confirmed, patients still under investigation are accommodated in a specific unit to ensure that the risk of infection is reduced.
Mediclinic Ermelo remains open to treating both Covid positive and negative individuals.
Although at times transfers between facilities are necessary the decision to transfer a patient will not be based on the Covid status of the patient.
It is also important to note that a hospital will never refuse emergency care for a patient.
Where a patient cannot be admitted for whatever reason, the emergency centre will stabilise the patient and then arrange transfer to the nearest, most appropriate facility.
With reference to the enquiry around claims of staff members being requested to work while testing positive and other staff members refusing to work, Mediclinic Ermelo can confirm that there have not been incidents of staff refusal to work and no staff shortages have been experienced due to Covid-19 to date.
Staff monitoring and screening for Covid-19 continues according to strict protocols.
We encourage staff members to approach management regarding their concerns, so that they may be resolved quickly and directly with the staff members involved.
Covid-19 is one of many infectious diseases affecting clinical care environments and hence all hospitals have well established cleaning and disinfection processes and protocols in place.
These processes have been adapted in the Covid-19 landscape to ensure the highest standard of cleanliness is maintained with deep cleaning performed according to Covid-19 infection prevention control protocols.
Hospital cleaning will be performed using products that are effective against Covid-19, however, will not pose a risk to patients admitted within those wards.
Although at times temporary closure may be warranted, this will not routinely be the case.
It is important to note that closure of a hospital will result in the loss of critical bed capacity and care services from the greater healthcare system and as such any decision in this regard should be made diligently with the safety of staff and the patient community in mind.
In reference to the need for a referral for testing, a doctor or healthcare provider’s referral letter is traditionally required for a medical investigation to take place.
The healthcare provider will also provide the patient with the necessary paperwork to complete prior to testing.
This reduces the delays at testing facilities, as all paperwork is required to be submitted with the swab testing,” the statement concluded.
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