Second Tembisa Hospital fire not linked to first, says Phaahla

Deputy Health Minister Joe Phaahla visited Tembisa Hospital on Wednesday to assess damage after a second fire broke out in the facility’s filing room.

The fire incident on Wednesday morning followed another fire that damaged the hospital’s emergency unit on Saturday evening.

No connection between Tembisa Hospital fires

Speaking to the media outside the hospital on Wednesday, Phaahla emphasised that the two fires appear to be unrelated incidents.

“What we need to state clearly is that this was not a continuation of the Saturday fire,” Phaahla said.

“The area where the fire started earlier today is quite distinct from the accident and emergency. There’s a whole lot of outpatients facilities and clinics which separate from where the fire happened on Saturday to the area of storage of records, which is where the fire happened this morning.”

He further explained that based on initial observations, there seems to be no direct connection between the two incidents.

ALSO READ: Operations continue at Tembisa hospital after second fire in less than a week

Response and safety measures

The deputy minister praised the swift response from local emergency services.

“We are also very thankful to the fire department of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Authority for having responded swiftly both on Saturday and also this morning, such that by 8am, the fire itself had already been extinguished,” he said.

While the fire in the filing room was quickly contained, smoke spread to nearby areas, including the eye clinic and pharmacy.

Phaahla noted that teams were implementing “positive pressure ventilation to try and get the smoke out.”

He confirmed that despite the significant damage to equipment, no injuries were reported during either incident.

“We have lost a lot of valuable equipment, but not a single person has been injured during that process. Thanks to the alertness of our staff, including the emergency teams,” he said.

ALSO READ: Health MEC says Tembisa Hospital still operational after fire, confirms no injuries [PICS]

Tembisa Hospital service disruptions and alternatives

As a result of the fires, Tembisa Hospital is currently unable to accept emergency cases.

Emergency patients are being redirected to neighbouring facilities, including Tambo Memorial Hospital and Edenvale Hospital.

For non-emergency patients, particularly those requiring follow-up care, services continue to be available with some adjustments.

“Those who can be able to use other hospitals and also clinics and community health centres should, please, at this stage, utilise those,” Phaahla advised.

However, he assured that patients requiring specific follow-up care would still be accommodated.

Visiting hours for patients currently admitted at Tembisa Hospital remain unchanged.

“Members of the community who have patients here in the hospital must know that visitation is still allowed. The normal visiting hours which is from 14:00 hours to 16:00 hours — the advice is that they should use gate 4 to access during those times,” the deputy minister confirmed.

ALSO READ: Patients evacuated as fire breaks out at Tembisa Hospital’s emergency unit (VIDEO)

Investigation into Tembisa Hospital fire underway

Forensic specialists are examining both fire sites, and cases have been opened for investigation. Phaahla mentioned that the affected areas had been cordoned off before the second fire, which raises questions about how it started.

“This area had already been cordoned off, and also the power supply to the whole area — the accident and emergency and the outpatients area — the power supply had already been switched off completely because there’s no services happening here,” he said, adding that authorities need to establish “what then happened and which started the second fire this morning”.

Appeal for calm

Phaahla urged community members and political representatives to remain calm and allow space for hospital staff to care for patients while investigations continue.

“We want to appeal to community members in whatever formation, including those who might be through associations, political parties and so on —- we understand your anxiety, we understand your worries in terms of wanting to understand the detail, but we’re appealing to you that can you give some space,” Phaahla said.

He discouraged speculation about the causes of the fires, asking the public to “leave those to the specialists — the forensics — who are here”.

LISTEN: Dr. Joe Phaahla Calls for Calm After Second Fire at Tembisa Hospital

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