FF Plus will keep putting pressure on the Gauteng Health Department concerning Kempton Park Hospital

17 November 2022

The FF Plus will continue to put pressure on the Gauteng Department of Health to execute its plans to build a new 300-bed district hospital on the site of the existing Kempton Park Hospital.

The Gauteng MEC for Health, Ms Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, revealed these plans in a written reply to a question by the FF Plus.

According to the MEC, the Health Department has approached the Gauteng Infrastructure Funding Agency for funding proposals to demolish the existing hospital and build a new one.

The service provider compiled a report with proposed options considering affordability, timeframes and regulatory compliance.

The proposals are still being considered. At this stage, there are still no timeframes nor a budget for the project.

Residents currently receive medical treatment at the Kempton Park, Spartan, Birchleigh North and Birchleigh Clinics that refer patients to the overfull Tembisa Hospital.

This Hospital is 20km from the clinics and in some cases, sick patients are unable to afford the taxi fare. 

The FF Plus lays the blame for the closure of the original Kempton Park Hospital at the door of the ANC-controlled Gauteng government.

The decision to close the Hospital in 1996-1997 because it was "underused" was short-sighted.

It is a crying shame that a once fully equipped hospital was closed down and now there is a shortage of public healthcare services in the East Rand.

Gauteng deserves better than the ANC.

Issued by Amanda de Lange, FF Plus MPL: Gauteng, 17 November 2022