Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital has been given priority in the government’s hospital revitalisation programme after Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said she would hesitate to seek treatment there.
On a tour of the hospital on Thursday, Tshabalala-Msimang and her health MEC saw how patients at the Soweto hospital had no bed linen and were given ragged blankets. Many patients in various wards slept on stretchers without linen.
The aim of the visit was to get first-hand information on the quality of service by interacting with health workers, patients and the public.
Hospitals visited by the minister included the Mohlakeng clinic on the West Rand, Mofolo community health centre in Soweto and the Johannesburg Hospital.
”I always tell people to use public hospitals, but from what I saw today I would also hesitate to come here [Baragwanath],” she said.
”It was shocking to see all those sick people standing in long queues. Why would we allow our people to suffer like that,” she said.
Health ministry spokesperson Sibani Mngadi said on Friday problems identified at the hospital included infrastructure, the condition of buildings and poor management.
”A good example of inappropriate conduct of management was of linen. People complained that they had no linen but it was being stored in a storeroom.”
Mngadi said Tshabalala-Msimang met her health MEC after the tour.
”It was agreed that Bara would be prioritised in the government’s hospital revitalisation programme,” he said.
Tshabalala-Msimang was waiting for a report on problems at Baragwanath, the biggest hospital in the southern hemisphere. It was due next week. Once it had been examined, she and the MEC would hold a follow-up meeting.
”The minister regularly used public hospitals. She has been admitted to Johannesburg General and she uses Pretoria Academic. She encourages people to use public hospitals. But because of the problems at Baragwanath, she found it difficult to encourage people to go there.” – Sapa