SURGERY CRISIS AT HELEN JOSEPH HOSPITAL

Surgery has been drastically curtailed at the Helen Joseph Hospital in west Johannesburg due to a variety of equipment failures, including lack of oxygen and broken lifts. Last week the problem was a lack of steam to sterilize instruments.

Earlier this year a leaking theatre roof led to cancellation of operations. This hospital is crumbling because of poor maintenance over many years.

Every day there is a new problem that negatively affects the quality of patient care. Staff cope as best they can, but the infrastructure breakdown is just too overwhelming.

Urgent intervention is needed to rehabilitate this hospital before conditions become totally unbearable.

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

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