Breast scans for female patients at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital can no longer be done as the Mammography machine has been broken for more than two weeks.
“More than 30 patients every week are now being sent for breast scans at the Helen Joseph and Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospitals, which are battling to cope with the extra numbers,” said Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Gauteng Shadow for Health Jack Bloom.
He said, “I visited the hospital on Monday after receiving complaints, but staff were reluctant to speak without permission from hospital CEO Gladys Bogoshi.
“She was in a meeting when I went to her office, so I emailed questions to her which have so far remained unanswered.
“I have established from other sources that the mammography machine in Block three of the hospital was damaged by a leaking roof, and needs to be replaced.
“There is a proposal that a new machine be placed in Block five, but it seems that it will not be purchased for some time,” Bloom said.
He said meanwhile, patients who need to be tested for breast cancer are inconvenienced by extra travel, and delays will build up the longer the Charlotte Maxeke machine is out of action.
“How can it happen that yet another vital machine breaks down at this flagship hospital?
“I was warned last year about the leaking ceilings which were damaging equipment.
“Lifts are also broken, and many toilets are a disgrace.
“This hospital needs a major overhaul of facilities and equipment,” Bloom said.
