Urgent intervention needed for dire situation at Thelle Mmogoerane Hospital 

4 October 2017

Seriously ill and injured patients are suffering on the floor in the grossly overcrowded casualty unit of the Thelle Mogoerane Hospital (New Natalspruit) in Vosloorus.

I visited the hospital this morning with my colleague Dr Neil Campbell MPL after receiving complaints that some patients spent five days at the casualty as the wards are too full for them to be admitted.

We saw about 60 patients in the casualty unit, some of whom were in wheelchairs and others on foam mattresses on the floor (see photo here).

There was soiled linen on the floor and the staff were hard-pressed in trying to deal with all the patients.

Staff are so frustrated that some of them had stopped work and demanded a meeting with hospital CEO Dr Nomonde Mqhayi.

We saw more than 100 disgruntled staff giving their grievances to her in an auditorium.

They are aggrieved about staff shortages, too few beds, patients referred from other hospitals and the risk of cross-infection from crowded conditions.

I am very concerned about the terrible overcrowding of patients in this 821 bed hospital which was opened in August 2014.

Gauteng Health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa should intervene urgently to address the deep problems at this hospital which cannot cope with the large number of patients.

I fear the worst should the dire situation continue at this hospital.

Issued by Jack Bloom, DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC, 4 October 2017