The hospital is a facility for drug-resistant tuberculosis patients, admitted until they are no longer infectious – a period that can take several months, depending on response to treatment.
The patient in question, one of 150 currently occupying the hospital’s 266 beds, alleged in an anonymous e-mail to the North Eastern Tribune, “I’ve been exposed to the harshest winter conditions with no hot water in our ward, buildings that are not well maintained and sometimes a shortage of food.”
The e-mail further suggested that nursing staff were unhelpful and unfriendly, claiming, “It’s like they don’t want to be disturbed.”
However, the Gauteng Department of Health’s response to an enquiry on the matter painted a very different picture of conditions.
One ward did experience difficulties with hot water supply, explained head of communications, Prince Hamnca. After a burst geyser was replaced, a second developed a faulty safety valve which could not be replaced due to industrial strikes, and patients had to share water from a single geyser.
However, Hamnca dismissed allegations of food shortages, stating that none had been reported by patients. While the age of the hospital, established more than a century ago to treat infectious diseases, makes maintenance difficult, meanwhile, it is treated as a priority, said Hamnca.
“In the past year at least four wards were upgraded and maintenance issues are addressed as a matter of urgency,” he said.
While patients are encouraged to identify inconsiderate nurses to authorities for investigation, Hamnca asserted that the hospital’s nurses, trained in batho pele, or people first, principles for public service according to the Constitution which apply across all public service bodies committed to quality patient care.
“This is evident in the many compliments we receive. It is therefore difficult to believe that the nurses are perceived as being unfriendly and unhelpful,” he added.
The Department takes all patient complaints and concerns seriously, thoroughly investigating all complaints, he stressed. Patients who are dissatisfied with service quality should lodge complaints with institution heads or quality assurance officers, or through public service hotlines.
Details: Gauteng Hotline 0860 428 8364; Presidential hotline 17737; Public Service Commission 0800 701 701.
