BROKEN CAT SCAN AT NATALSPRUIT HOSPITAL AS SUPPLIER STILL NOT PAID

Patients' lives are at risk at the Natalspruit Hospital on the east rand because the CAT Scanner has been broken since October last year.

It is a Siemens machine, but has not been repaired because this company has not been paid.

This is despite the claim by the Gauteng Health Department that it is up to date with all payments to hospital suppliers.

Patients at Natalspruit casualty have to be transferred to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital to use the CAT Scanners there, but this can take anything between two and six hours.

The delay in diagnosis compromises the care of severely injured patients.

This situation cannot be allowed to continue. It is extremely stressful for hospital staff to work without a basic piece of equipment for so long.

The payment must be made and the machine repaired as soon as possible.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng health spokesman, July 3 2012

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