BARA HOSPITAL RUNS SHORT OF SURGICAL SUPPLIES

Surgery at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital has been hit by a shortage of basic supplies, including gloves, disposable linen and cleaning swabs.

A nurse told me how these supplies had to be borrowed from elsewhere, otherwise operations could not be done.

Disposable oxygen masks have been washed and used on other patients, which is very bad practice because of the risk of cross-infection.

No explanation has been given for the shortages, but I suspect that suppliers have not been paid.

I don't see any urgency by the Gauteng Health Department to rectify the problems faced by the hospital, which include over-crowding in the internal medicine wards, with patients sleeping on the floor or two in one bed.

When will we see effective action to ensure quality care at this hospital?

Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC, July 11 2014

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