Potchefstroom Hospital says the safety of their staff and patients are their first priority.
This was their response to a complaint from someone who was not allowed to visit her loved one in the ICU outside visiting hours. The complainant said Potchefstroom Hospital is turning into a jail.
Security at the entrance to the hospital has been intensified of late. Visitors now have to be searched and sign in before they are allowed on the premises. This has sparked frustration among those who have been denied access to their loved ones, especially when it is not visiting hours.
According to Modiri Mompati, the spokesperson of Potchefstroom Hospital, access control at the hospital is very important. There are specified visiting hours to make sure that visitors do not disturb doctors or nurses while they are tending to the patients and their needs.
‘If someone wants to visit a patient outside of these hours, the security personnel will phone the relevant department to ask permission. Only the sister in charge of the department may give such permission,’ he said.
Gloria Mmolawa, the quality assurance officer at Potchefstroom Hospital says such permission is granted when a patient is either in a critical condition, going for a major operation or their condition has changed drastically.
‘When there is a need, we can get permission for someone to visit a patient but, otherwise, our visiting hours stand.’
Mompati said the strict access control at the hospital ensures the safety of the staff and patients.
‘If a patient has been stabbed and brought to the hospital, it is not far-fetched for the criminal to come here and finish the job,’ he said. He added that a staff member’s vehicle and other assets have been stolen from the premises in the past.
The visiting hours at Potchefstroom Hospital are from 15:00 to 16:00 and 19:00 to 20:00.
