Posts tagged with 'Health'

 

Public hospitals in South Africa have become a death-trap for the poor

Posted on Leave a comment

Refiloe Nt’sekhe of the Democratic Alliance says that public hospitals have become a death-trap for the poor‚ says 

The party has produced this checklist of the top eight problems that it says require urgent intervention‚ following inspection visits to hospitals and clinics over the past month by DA provincial health spokespersons Jack Bloom MPL (Gauteng)‚ Dr Imran Keeka MPL (KwaZulu-Natal)‚ Dr Tutu Faleni MPL (North West) and Langa Bodlani MPL (Limpopo).

Here is a summary of their report:

1. Chronic staff shortages and long waiting times

All the facilities lacked staff in critical positions.

At the Bongani Hospital in the Free State‚ they found that the facility only had one nephrology Sister to attend to patients suffering from kidney diseases. This was despite health norms and standards indicating that hospitals should have nine.

While inspecting the Paediatric Ward in Taung District Hospital in North West‚ the DA fo
Continue reading…

Share with friends on Social Media (if share buttons do not show below, disable your ad blocker temporarily):

Enjoyed this post? Share it!

 
 

Livingston Hospital: Dirty hospital linen in plastic bags is piling up and patients often have to bring their own linen from home when hospitalised

Posted on Leave a comment

The problem, which has been attributed to a broken washing machine and recent strike action at the hospital, has affected three hospitals – Livingstone, Dora Nginza and Provincial – as washing for all three hospitals is done at Livingstone.

Several plastic bags containing dirty linen are lying outside the laundry and while hospital management is trying to make contingency plans, the pile is growing.

Livingstone Hospital board member Pula Lonake said part of the problem could be attributed to recent strikes, with a change in hospital management also playing a role.

“One would expect some abnormality with the previous management going out. With new management in place we will be dealing with it and expect something to happen.

“We have the interest of patients at heart,” he said.

Lonake confirmed this had been the prevailing situation at the hospital for three weeks.

“It’s very unfortunate and needs to be dealt with.

“This matter need
Continue reading…

Share with friends on Social Media (if share buttons do not show below, disable your ad blocker temporarily):

Enjoyed this post? Share it!

 
 

Staking by die San Michele-tehuis in Brakpan is vir eers opgeskort nadat een van die psigiatriese pasiënte dood is

Posted on Leave a comment

Die staking by die San Michele-tehuis in Brakpan is vir eers opgeskort nadat “een van die pasiënte dood is”, het Ellen Bodoza, woordvoerder van die National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (Nupsaw), gesê. Dié vakbond verteenwoordig die stakers.

Bodoza het Maandag gesê hul lede het by die tehuis vir psigiatriese en gestremde pasiënte gestaak en ’n 6%-loonverhoging geëis.

Die staking het Vrydag begin.

“Hoewel die loonverhoging deur die departement van gesondheid goedgekeur is, het die bestuur geweier om dit te aanvaar. Ons lede is vroeër ingelig oor die sterfte en die staking is intussen opgeskort,” sê Bodoza.

Sy kon nie bevestig of die werkers vandag sal terugkeer werk toe nie.

Intussen sê Marius Bosman, bestuurder van dié tehuis vir psigiatriese en gestremde pasiënt dat die stakers kan nie geblameer word vir die dood van die pasiënt  nie.

“Sy was verstandelik erg gestremd en op die oomblik wil ons nie te vinnig reag
Continue reading…

Share with friends on Social Media (if share buttons do not show below, disable your ad blocker temporarily):

Enjoyed this post? Share it!

 
 

Man’s tumour misdiagnosed as a headache at Groote Schuur Hospital – told to take a tablet and go home

Posted on Leave a comment

A growing tumour eating into the nasal passage of a Mitchells Plain man was diagnosed as a headache by staff at Groote Schuur Hospital after he went to the trauma unit to get help for the pain. Faried Jassiem, who felt too ill to go to work, went to the trauma unit after he felt he would pass out, but he never saw a doctor.

Jassiem’s wife, Zaafirah Jassiem, said: “A male nurse said to him why do you just come here with a headache? They became abrupt with him and told him to take a tablet and go home. They gave him a referral letter for Mitchells Plain Day Hospital.

“Sick as he was, and in pain, he had to get on a bus and travel to Mitchells Plain. On the bus his nose started bleeding. When he got to the day hospital, the nurse told him they might not see him that day.”

Zaafirah said her husband went back to the day hospital the next day in unbearable pain. By then his eye had shifted and he was experiencing double vision.

A doctor at the day hospita
Continue reading…

Share with friends on Social Media (if share buttons do not show below, disable your ad blocker temporarily):

Enjoyed this post? Share it!

 
 

This is what the ANC-government did to SA’s health care! – Cancer patients in KZN must wait up to six months for mammogram screening

Posted on Leave a comment

Health MEC Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo is on record calling for people to get screened for early detection of cancers.

And late last month, the national and provincial health departments launched a cancer campaign to educate people that many cancers were preventable or could be “successfully” treated through early detection and timeous treatment.

However, more concerns about the KwaZulu-Natal oncology crisis have been raised by advocacy groups after revelations that the waiting period for a mammogram screening is currently more than six months.

At least four women have told the Daily News that they will undergo screening between May 9 and 16 next year. Three said they had gone to uMlazi’s Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital “some months ago” concerned about lumps in their breasts, and to their shock were told to return in May next year for mammograms.

The fourth woman had since been told at Port Shepstone Regional Hospital that she had cancer.

Mammogra
Continue reading…

Share with friends on Social Media (if share buttons do not show below, disable your ad blocker temporarily):

Enjoyed this post? Share it!

 
 

Disastrous ANC has no cure for poor healthcare in the Free State

Posted on Leave a comment

The ANC has no cure for the sickly state of health care in the Free State. Year after year the Auditor General (AG) diagnoses the Free State Department of Health with a serious case of poor leadership, mismanagement and maladministration. Year after year, the people of the Free State see no improvement in health care.

The AG’s audit outcome for the Department for the period of 2017 to 2018 indicates:

Irregular expenditure of R820 million (R596 million in 2016-2017).
Fruitless expenditure of R3,1 million (R900 000 in 2016-2017).
Unauthorised expenditure of R141 million (R68 million in 2016-2017).

An example of the poor management is the Department’s appointment of a local service provider that was outsourced to address health care challenges. The service provider was supposed to use the Department’s mobile clinics to focus on efficiency, coverage, specialisation and value for money.

The service provider was paid R24 million (R945 per patient) to do t
Continue reading…

Share with friends on Social Media (if share buttons do not show below, disable your ad blocker temporarily):

Enjoyed this post? Share it!

 
 

SA’s medical health in shambles – 21 Patients still missing after the devastating Life Esidimeni tragedy that occurred in 2015

Posted on Leave a comment

Twenty-one mental health patients who were part of the individuals transferred from Life Esidimeni healthcare facility to illegal NGOs are still missing.

In 2015, former Gauteng MEC of Health Qedani Mahlangu terminated a contract with the private hospital, saying it has become expensive to keep them there.

This resulted in 144 patients losing their lives.

The Democratic Alliance’s Jack Bloom says it is worrying that they have not been found after they have been missing for so long.

“The MEC for health has said that the Special Investigating Unit has been brought in to investigate. I think this is very good because some of these patients could’ve died at these NGOs and be secretly buried.”

Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the Gauteng MEC, Lesemang Matuka, says the department is concerned and it is pleading with the public to assist them in finding the patients.

“We once again call on the members of our communities or anyone who might have infor
Continue reading…

Share with friends on Social Media (if share buttons do not show below, disable your ad blocker temporarily):

Enjoyed this post? Share it!

 
 

Medical facility under investigation after two babies die in mysterious circumstances at Shongwe Hospital, Mpumalanga

Posted on Leave a comment

The Mpumalanga health department on Tuesday said it launched an internal investigation into the deaths of two babies, who died at Shongwe Hospital in Nkomazi after they were born prematurely.

Department spokesperson Dumisani Malamule told the African News Agency (ANA) that the babies died on Monday night.

“There were suspicions at the beginning that the babies died due to a lack of oxygen, but we called in a company which established that the oxygen was enough,” said Malamule.

“The babies died in a ward of babies who were born prematurely and no one has been suspended. The outcome of the investigation will give us an idea on whether an action must be taken. If the investigation reveals that the deaths were due to a human error, a criminal case will also be opened with the police.”

Malamule could not immediately reveal the ages of the dead babies nor disclose whether they were twins. He said the member of the executive council (MEC) for health, Sasek
Continue reading…

Share with friends on Social Media (if share buttons do not show below, disable your ad blocker temporarily):

Enjoyed this post? Share it!

 
 

New study at Stellenbosch University will look at synthetic blood products for the resuscitation of trauma victims

Posted on Leave a comment

A large, multi-institutional clinical trial conducted by emergency medicine experts from Stellenbosch University (SU), in partnership with United States Department of Defence, will evaluate the use of synthetic blood products for the resuscitation of trauma victims before arrival at hospital.

The Division of Emergency Medicine at SU’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences will be the coordinating centre for the study, which includes 21 hospitals and 27 ambulance bases across South Africa. These include public and private academic institutions and healthcare facilities. For this study, SU is also partnering with the Universities of Cape Town (UCT), KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), Witwatersrand (Wits) and Pretoria (UP), collectively representing the body of academic emergency medicine in South Africa.

The study will evaluate the use of the haemoglobin-based oxygen carrier Hemopure (HbO2 Therapeutics LLC) together with Bioplasma FDP (National Biologics Institute), a freez
Continue reading…

Share with friends on Social Media (if share buttons do not show below, disable your ad blocker temporarily):

Enjoyed this post? Share it!

 
 

Pasiënte mag toilet by die Frere-hospitaal in Oos-Londen net drie keer per dag gebruik

Posted on Leave a comment

Die Oos-Kaapse gesondheidsdepartement ondersoek aantygings van pasiënte wat sê hulle mag die toilet by die Frere-hospitaal in Oos-Londen net drie keer per dag gebruik.

As hulle die toilet buite die geskeduleerde toilet-tye ná elke ete wil gebruik, sal dit sonder die hulp van verpleegsters wees.

Sinethemba Joya (29), ’n pasiënt van Kaapstad wat in die hospitaal opgeneem is met twee gebreekte bene ná ’n taxi-ongeluk, het onlangs haar misnoeë oor dié reëling op sosiale media uitgespreek.

Uit haar plasing blyk dit dat sy die 04:00-toilet-tyd gemis het. Teen 09:00 kon sy nie langer uithou nie en het noodgedwonge haar kosblik gebruik om in te urineer.

Joya het verder beweer bejaarde pasiënte wat hul beddens natmaak, moet as straf die hele dag lank in die nat bed en hul eie urine lê.

Jane Cowley, DA-woordvoerder oor gesondheid, het in reaksie op Joya se inskrywing gesê die oënskynlike verontagsaming van pasiënte en hul waardigheid is skokkend.
Continue reading…

Share with friends on Social Media (if share buttons do not show below, disable your ad blocker temporarily):

Enjoyed this post? Share it!

 
 

Vacant positions at The Bheki Mlangeni Hospital in Soweto apparently sells for money and sex

Posted on Leave a comment

The Gauteng Department of Health held disciplinary hearings in connection with 111 incidents where employment was offered for sale at the Bheki Mlangeni Hospital in Soweto.

Jack Bloom, DA’s spokesperson for health in Gauteng, said the shocking announcement was made in Gauteng by Ms. Gwen Ramokgopa in response to a question Bloom had addressed to her on Tuesday.

“She [Ramokgopa] said trade unions contributed to the announcement of this job scam and that the case was handed over to the Hawks for further investigation. Cases have also been filed with police over employees who have received money under the false pretense that they can get jobs at the hospital, “Bloom said in a statement.

According to Bloom, 111 cases, with the exception of eight, have already been finalized. It resulted in 98 employees being suspended, one employer being demote, a few dismissals and a resignation.

“The situation was so bad that an assassin had been hired to kill the head of the
Continue reading…

Share with friends on Social Media (if share buttons do not show below, disable your ad blocker temporarily):

Enjoyed this post? Share it!

 
 

Suid-Afrikaners gewaarsku oor verhoogde malaria-risiko, veral in noordelike dele van die land

Posted on Leave a comment

Die Nasionale Instituut vir Oordraagbare Siektes (Nios) het Maandag gewaarsku dat Suid-Afrikaners bedag moet wees op ’n malaria-risiko, veral in die noordelike dele van die land wat nou die somerreënseisoen binnegaan.

“Ongelukkig het ons nog nie die laaste van malaria in Suid-Afrika beleef nie wat volgens alle aanduidings ’n terugkeer maak,” sê dr. Peter Vincent van Netcare se reis-klinieke. Volgens Vincent is daar onlangs malariagevalle aangemeld in plekke waar vroeër geglo is malaria uitgewis is, soos die Waterberg-distrik in die noord-oostelike deel van Limpopo.

Hy benadruk dat die reënseisoen in die noordelike dele van die land aanleiding gee tot die toename in gevalle van malaria. “Die risiko is die hoogste tussen September en Mei wat al voorheen as die malaria-seisoen bestempel is.

“Maak seker dat jy weet waar die geaffekteerde gebiede is en watter tipe voorsorgmaatreëls nodig is. Malaria word aangetref in die noordelike dele van Limpopo
Continue reading…

Share with friends on Social Media (if share buttons do not show below, disable your ad blocker temporarily):

Enjoyed this post? Share it!

 
 

Vrou wag al 29 dae vir man se lyk omrede staatslykhuis nog geen lykskouing gedoen het

Posted on Leave a comment

Amper 29 dae nadat Kobus Cronje (58) dood is, lê sy lyk nog in die staatslykhuis van die Tygerberg-hospitaal terwyl sy vrou, Nina, hom ’n waardige begrafnis wil gee.

Maar die forensiese patologiediens van die Wes-Kaapse departement van gesondheid wag vir mediese verslae van die laaste hospitaal waar Cronje behandel is, sê Robert Daniels, ’n woordvoerder van die departement.

Cronje, van Hermanus, was op 10 September in ’n ernstige motorfietsongeluk. Hy is aanvanklik in die MediClinic Vergelegen-hospitaal opgeneem, waar hy verskeie operasies ondergaan het. Hy is van daar af na die Busamed Paardevlei-hospitaal oorgeplaas, waar hy nog operasies moes ondergaan.

Op 13 September het hy ’n bloedklont ontwikkel en is hy in die hospitaal dood.

Daniels sê Cronje se lyk is eers tien dae ná sy dood na die forensiese patologiediens verwys. Dié afdeling het ’n groot werklas, maar dit is volgens hom nie die enigste rede hoekom daar nog nie ’n lykskouing gehou is nie.

As
Continue reading…

Share with friends on Social Media (if share buttons do not show below, disable your ad blocker temporarily):

Enjoyed this post? Share it!

 
 

Ageing health infrastructure in South-Africa must receive urgent attention

Posted on Leave a comment

Deputy President David Mabuza has announced that government will prioritise the upgrading and maintenance of health infrastructure in an effort to deal with the challenge of ageing and dilapidated infrastructure in public health facilities.

Mabuza made the remark while highlighting the outcomes of the two-day Presidential Health Summit held in Boksburg.

During the summit, Mabuza said, it was agreed that in the context of fiscal constraints, provinces will be expected to prioritise their financial resource allocations in a manner that ensures that the delivery of health care is not compromised.

“More importantly, this summit pointed out that we need to develop a sustainable financing model for our health system. We will commence with this task immediately.

“National Treasury will be seized with this task to ensure that this model is finalised within a short space of time.

“As we lay a solid foundation for the implementation of the NHI, government wi
Continue reading…

Share with friends on Social Media (if share buttons do not show below, disable your ad blocker temporarily):

Enjoyed this post? Share it!

 
 

Clinic in Port Elizabeth temporary shutdown due to gang violence

Posted on Leave a comment

A group of residents in Helenvale, Port Elizabeth, shut down their local clinic on Wednesday fearing for the safety of staff and patients after ongoing gang activity in the area.

Community members say Helenvale Clinic has been repeatedly targeted by criminals, who recently stole the air-conditioner.

As a result, the Helenvale Clinic committee decided to temporarily close the clinic and move equipment to Malabar Clinic, about three kilometres away.

“We had to take this decision after recent events that involved ongoing serious crime and shootings around the clinic,” said a member of the Helenvale Clinic committee, who asked not to be named for fear of being targeted. She said staff morale is low and that the six nurses who work at the clinic are overburdened and fearful.

“We were given permission by the Eastern Cape Health Department to use the premises at Malabar Clinic as a temporary measure,” she said.

On Wednesday evening the Department of Hea
Continue reading…

Share with friends on Social Media (if share buttons do not show below, disable your ad blocker temporarily):

Enjoyed this post? Share it!