BROKEN EQUIPMENT PILES UP AT BARA HOSPITAL

Broken equipment worth millions of rand is piling up at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital as supply orders have not been made for companies to repair them.

I saw this when I visited the hospital yesterday.

There are 250 broken infusion pumps in a store room, many of which have been there since last year awaiting repair. An infusion pump is a vital piece of medical equipment used to infuse fluids, medication or nutrients into a patient's blood stream.

These Infusion pumps are worth about R3 million as they cost about R12 000 each.

I also saw about 50 broken stretcher beds and 15 wheelchairs stored in the open, deteriorating further in the sun and rain (photos available on request).

All this equipment is needed in the wards, but management incompetence is delaying the repairs.

Last year I highlighted a similar problem of broken incubators which were not being dispatched for repair.

This latest inefficiency is one more reason why Bara CEO Ms Johanna More should be removed and replaced by someone who can really fix up this hospital.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Health Spokesman, August 2 2012

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