Note to editors: Please find attached English and Sesotho soundbites by David Masoeu MPL and Afrikaans soundbite by Werner Pretorius MPL
The continued failure of the Department of Health to address the forever-lengthening number of patients in need of urgent medical attention, including surgeries in the Free State, remains a concern. Recent oversight visits to various health institutions in the province revealed that there is a significant increase in the number of patients who need urgent medical attention, especially in surgical wards.
The DA has previously warned that unless the Department of Health in the Free State gives immediate attention to the deteriorating conditions in health facilities, there is no way that the envisaged public health service will ever become a reality in the Free State. Some of the complaints by patients at these facilities include, among others, the following:
- Failure to deliver chronic medication to patients.
- Shortage of medical personnel, including Doctors, Nurses and Medical Technicians.
- Poorly maintained and non-functional medical equipment.
- Deteriorating Infrastructure in both hospitals and clinics across the province.
To make matters worse, the damage to the National Hospital in Bloemfontein that caught fire is still unknown, as the report on the cause of the fire has not yet been released, while the patients who previously used the hospital’s services are now being referred to Pelonomi Hospital. Pelonomi is notorious for its unsatisfactory patient care due to continued staff shortages and medical equipment.
Additionally, in rural areas, there is a substantial shortage of ambulances. People living in rural areas find it difficult to visit hospitals at regional levels due to the limited space on ambulances and the limited days on which they operate. Statistics show one ambulance should be available per 10,000 patients living in an area. This is not the case in the Free State.
The DA has asked the MEC questions in the Legislature regarding these deficiencies and will continue pressuring the department to intervene in this critical situation.