OPS CANCELLED AT STEVE BIKO AS NO CLEAN LINEN

Operations were cancelled yesterday at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria because of a shortage of sterile gowns and towels.

Staff have been battling a lack of clean linen for some weeks, using paper substitutes when these are available.

The problem is due to poor service from the Masakhane state laundry in Rosslyn.

Other hospitals are also suffering because of the shortage of clean linen. Recently, male patients at the George Mukhari hospital in Garankuwa had to wear nighties because of a shortage of male gowns.

It is totally unacceptable that laundry problems continue to plague hospitals. It is hugely frustrating for staff and patients suffer.

The Gauteng Health Department must sort out the problems at Masakhane Laundry, or otherwise allow state hospitals to use private laundries instead.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Health Spokesman, July 2 2013

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