The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng is calling for an urgent rescue mission at the Tembisa Hospital accusing the province’s health department of failing to address severe staff shortages and a lack of critical medical equipment.
The party said that shortages of ventilators, examination lamps and anesthetic machines are putting patients at risk.
Spokesperson on Health Jack Bloom said that only 40 of the hospital’s 213 vacant posts are currently being filled, while key leadership positions, including that of the CEO and five heads of unit, remain vacant.
Bloom also criticised delays in repairing sections of the hospital damaged by fire in April last year, saying emergency and psychiatric patients are still being diverted to already pressured hospitals.
“The DA feels that this hospital has been terribly neglected since the looting of more than two billion rand, which happened because fake companies were being paid for goods and services that weren’t delivered.”
Puleng Maake
www.ewn.co.za
