Children suffer from broken anaesthetic machine at Bara hospital

20 January 2015

Child patients at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital cannot have a MRI scan because a special children's anaesthetic machine has been broken for six months.

This machine is necessary in order to stop children moving when they undergo a MRI scan.

Bara doctors now have to send children to the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital for MRI scans, which causes delays that can prejudice patient care.

I am very disappointed that a critical machine is yet again out of action at this hospital despite all the promises about speedy repair of equipment.

MRI scans are typically used for serious diseases like brain tumours.

Child patients are very vulnerable, and suffer extra stress because of delays and transfer to another hospital to have a MRI scan.

I have informed Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu, who will hopefully take immediate action to fix the machine.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health, January 20 2015

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