In recent years, Tembisa Hospital has recorded several infant deaths leaving many families grieving and seeking answers.
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In the past three years, Thembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital’s (TPTH) neonatal and maternity wards delivered 50 661 babies, of which 17 122 were delivered in 2020/21, 17 054 in 2021/22 and 16 485 in 2022/23.
This was revealed by the Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, when responding to questions at the Gauteng Provincial Legislature on June 6.
Sadly, 1.5% of the babies or 237 in 2020/21, 271 in 2021/22 and 280 in 2022/23 died of infections, hypoxia, congenital anomalies and other causes.
“Despite neonatal and maternity staff members responding to an overwhelming influx of patients, the team have worked tirelessly to ensure a 98.5% successful delivery rate.”
Nkomo-Ralehoko gave an assurance that issues of resource challenges such as staff and equipment shortages at the facility have been prioritised.
To augment existing posts, the facility has now filled 25 of the 32 posts that were recently advertised.
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Fifteen professional nurses and 10 enrolled nurses started work on June 1.
“Three posts of enrolled nursing assistants are in the process of being filled with job adverts having closed last month, while TPTH is working on attracting four speciality nurses.”
Over and above the mentioned funded posts, the institution has submitted a motivation to create more posts for the hospital to be aligned with a tertiary facility human resources structure.
“Furthermore, in a bid to improve the quality of care at Thembisa Hospital’s neonatal and maternity department, equipment like EEG machine, MRI scan, ultrasound machine with cranial and cardiac probes have been included in the 2023/24 demand plan and National Tertiary Services Grant business plan.
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“The hospital continues to ensure that the procurement of medical consumables, which requires regular stock, is ongoing,” said Nkomo-Ralehoko.
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