HAVING a non-functioning board and a lack of proper communication channels between residents and officials are at the heart of the brewing problems at Wentworth Hospital.
This revelation came to light during a recent community meeting in Wentworth, where frustrated residents voiced their concerns about the ongoing challenges that have plagued the hospital for the past two years.
Also read: Family demand answers over ill treatment at Wentworth Hospital
At the meeting, one resident recounted her recent harrowing experience when she visited the hospital.
“My husband was struggling to breathe, so I rushed him to Wentworth Hospital for oxygen. When I arrived at the trauma unit, I found a security guard handling patient files instead of medical staff. Because there was no one with medical experience, he died at 14:30, after the staff failed to resuscitate him,” she said.
During an investigation, it was revealed that the hospital’s board has been inactive for the past two years, leaving residents without a platform to voice their concerns.
Also read: Family to take legal action after relative dies at Wentworth hospital
A source known to the SUN said that the KZN Department of Health has failed to reconstitute the board, exacerbating the hospital’s issues.
“This has left the hospital management grappling with community complaints that they cannot escalate to the department due to the inactive board. Each hospital relies on its board as a bridge between the institution and the community. Without this crucial link, the hospital becomes ineffective and unable to address the concerns raised,” the source explained.
Residents claim that the hospital has turned into a death trap for the poor, with its healthcare system on the brink of collapse. A critical shortage of qualified staff has also negatively impacted the hospital’s operations. Numerous complaints have surfaced about alleged poor service.
Another resident said, “During my recent visit, patients in the Medical Out-Patient Department (MOPD) were left on benches for hours, waiting for assistance. It appears the hospital is overwhelmed and cannot handle these challenges on its own.”
In response to the crisis, the community has formed an interim steering committee to address the issues and report to the Office of the MEC for Health Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu.
Committee member André de Bruin said they have sent a detailed plan of action and their concerns via email to the MEC’s office. On September 3, the committee is scheduled to meet with Ward 66 councillor Zoë Solomon to develop strategies to restore the hospital to its former standards.
Spokesperson for the KZN Department of Health Ntokozo Maphisa did not respond to questions sent to his office before the time of going to press.
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