The dire conditions at Nelson Mandela Bay’s Dora Nginza Hospital have again come under fire — this time in the National Council of Provinces.
On Wednesday, delegates discussed public protector Kholeka Gcaleka’s May report, which slammed the shortage of staff and medical equipment at the hospital.
The report also highlighted inadequate security and insufficient space in the maternity ward, which has forced pregnant women to sleep on the floor on multiple occasions.
National Council of Provinces social services researcher Moses Mncwabe tabled the report, saying it would be prudent for committee members to conduct an unannounced visit to the Gqeberha hospital.
ANC delegate Makhi Feni described the situation at the hospital as dire — worse than what was documented in the report.
“If you talk about Dora Nginza Hospital, Livingstone Hospital and Empilweni Hospital, it’s like a death camp.
“I reside in that particular area. I don’t know what is the best mechanism that can be utilised.”
He said concerns had been raised about suggestions to manage the overflow at Dora Nginza by redirecting patients to Empilweni because conditions there were even more challenging.
“Empilweni does not have facilities. The situation there is worse.
“I don’t want to talk about Livingstone because it has the same problem of the staff ratio of nurses, with patients overwhelming them.”
Feni said Dora Nginza was not safe, and people visiting the hospital were in constant fear of being robbed.
“It’s not a conducive environment for the sick.
“The public protector’s remedial actions are clear and must be followed. The hospitals serving our people, those who are poor, are directly affected.”
Gcaleka gave the Eastern Cape health department 60 days from the date of her report to submit a plan outlining how it would address the identified security shortcomings.
Gcaleka said one of the main problems was insufficient staff.
“Dora Nginza Regional Hospital has a shortage of staff which negatively impacts on the health care provided to patients.
“The hospital uses a 2016 organigram which has become obsolete and thus does not cater for its needs, considering that it also performs additional tertiary functions.”
Gcaleka noted that there was severe underspending by the department, despite critical equipment shortages.
She instructed the department head (Rolene Wagner) to explain how it would address the structural challenges which she said had contributed to the problems.
Gcaleka also gave the department 120 days to submit an implementation plan detailing how Empilweni would be upgraded to a district hospital, as well as how it intended to address the shortage of medical and non-clinical staff.
EFF delegate Laetitia Arries said committee members should make a surprise visit to Dora Nginza and other hospitals in the province.
“We feel that the department of health has failed us because they did not give us a true reflection of what’s happening within the hospital.
“The hospital is in a dire state.
“The management of that hospital needs to be held accountable because they are the ones who failed the people.
“The shortage of midwives is a concern because of how many stillborn babies we have as a result of a shortage of staff.
“The management gets performance bonuses, but on what basis, because you must look at these facilities.”
Eastern Cape health spokesperson Siyanda Manana said he would only be able to respond on Friday to questions on the progress made in implementing the public protector’s recommendations.
The Herald
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