Patients at Standerton Hospital have to be carried to theatre because lifts don’t work

The lifts at the Standerton Hospital have been out of order for some time.

The Standerton Advertiser was made aware of the problem by different people since January this year.

According to a resident who wished to stay anonymous, a time-frame of September last year can be put on it.

AfriForum confirmed in January that their assistance is needed to help carry patients up to the theatre and down the stairs to the wards.

“It took four people to eventually carry a woman, who just gave birth, to the ambulance for transfer to Mar-Peh Mediclinic,” Mr André Pienaar said.

Two medical practitioners in Standerton were in accord with the sub-standard conditions at the facility.

“It’s as if we are living in the Middle Ages,” Dr Eric Louw said.

Dr Louw carried a patient whose ankle needed to be operated on, on his back to the theatre towards the end of last year.

He also said theatre clothing is non-existent.

“I can not fathom what the reason for the delay is.

“Surely it doesn’t take that long to order a part.”

Dr Louw contacted Mr Rosier de Ville, who in his turn, contacted the DA-spokesman on health in Mpumalanga.

Ms Jane Sithole issued a press release on Thursday, 25 March, saying a motion has been tabled in this regard.

“The motion was adopted in the legislature,” Mr De Ville said on Friday, 26 March.

The theatre at this hospital is on the second floor and another surgical unit is on another floor.

A woman who underwent a Caesarean with the birth of her second child, described her slow step-by-step progress, out of the theatre when the lifts were out of order on 22 July 2019.

Dr Nikola Batev said on Friday, 26 March that the hospital has grind to a complete standstill.

“After booking a patient for a procedure, the only medical treatment offered, is putting the patient on a drip,” Dr Batev added.

He confirmed what Dr Louw said about the doctors having to fetch a patient and physically take him or her to the theatre and back.

“There is absolutely no excuse for such practices.

“Many of my patients after major surgical procedure/laparotomy, were forced to walk down the stairs to ward 1 on the first floor the same day, few hours after the surgery.

“None of them came to theatre in any form of medical clothing, they were all wrapped in some towels, naked.

“To prevent such behaviour and avoid any accidental injury or disgrace of the patients, while walking one floor up to the theatre, all staff from the surgical ward refuse to accompany the patient to theatre.

According to him, there is no formal handover of the patients and many mistakes can happen.

“It is understandable from their point of view.”

Dr Batev added that they are looking at the wrong side of the problem since a solution in these desperate times is there and obvious – apart of fixing the lifts.

“One can admit and treat surgical patients on the same floor of the existing theatre.

“In the past, ward 3 was actually a surgical ward and serving that purpose – admitting and treating all elective and emergency surgical cases.

“It requires just someone to take responsibility and implement it.

“Seemingly no one from the management is prepared to do so.”

He concluded by saying this problem should not be resolved by a third party, it should be not there at all.

“By the way, the elevators have not been working for many years, I honestly can not remember when last they worked.”

The newspaper had already sent an e-mail on 20 January to the CEO of the hospital, Mr Nhlanhla Dladla, enquiring when the lifts are to be repaired.

Information also suggested that the risk of injury is considerable when volunteers help to carry patients.

“It cannot be seen as normal for a woman who is experiencing an emergency ectopic pregnancy, to get herself to theatre through the stairs, and a day later after the operation walk herself down the stairs again,” the DA said.

The statement went on to say that patients are just wrapped with a cloth or a sheet walking up and down the stairs, naked.

Dr Louw fully agreed with this statement and voiced his frustration in cases of emergencies.

“This is inhumane and a total violation of a patient’s rights to privacy and their dignity is trampled on,” the DA said.

The party has called on the provincial government, particularly the Department of Health and Public Works, to urgently fix or replace lifts at the Standerton Hospital.

The Standerton Advertiser contacted Mr Dladla telephonically on 26 March, who referred the newspaper to Mr Sipho Monyela.

“I am on leave and Mr Monyela is the acting CEO,” he said.

After the conversation with him, the newspaper’s questions were sent via e-mail the same day.