PREMIER SHOULD SHAKE UP MANAGEMENT AT BARA HOSPITAL

I welcome Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane belated attention to the problems at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, but she should blame management rather than saboteurs.

The electricity crisis there is due to long-time mismanagement as the power needs of the new building should have been planned for. Maintenance has also been a long-standing failing, but nothing was done even though I raised it repeatedly earlier this year.

Illegal activities should not be possible at a hospital that spends R20 million a year on security and has 135 guards and many video cameras. There needs to be a shake-up of management at the hospital.

The Chief Executive Officer needs real management autonomy, including maintenance matters rather than this falling under the Department of Infrastructure Development which leads to many delays.

There has been a head-in-the-sand attitude for far too long about the deep-seated problems at this hospital.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Health Spokesman, July 12 2011

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