Mrs Ncamisile Nkwanyana,MPL
IFP KZN Provincial Spokesperson on Health,
Today the IFP conducted an unannounced oversight visit to Addington Hospital after being unidated by phonecalls from concerned patients and nurses that only two lifts are working and there is piles of uncollected garbage next to the lifts.
Upon our arrival at the hosiptal, we were greeted by piles of uncollected garbage and disturbing smell.
What shocked us the most was to discover that, indeed lifts are not working and patients have to wait for more than thirty minutes for the lifts including patients that have to go to the theater.
In the laundry room there are piles of dirty laundry because the machines have a breadown since December 2019 and have not been fixed. The piles of laundry has been there for almost three months and continues to grow on a daily basis. This means that the hospital is running a risk of having patients running naked and subjexted to using their own clothes from home due to shortage of clean clothing for patients.
What we witnessed at Addington Hospital is an indication of a badly run government facility that neglects patients’ needs. Patients should not feel like they are treated inhumane like they are animals. This situation is against what the KZN MEC of Health, Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu always tell us that everything is in order. As the IFP we call upon the MEC to do the right thing by fixing all challenges at Addington Hospital. All issues affecting hospitals in this province must be thoroughly investigated and addressed with the urgency they deserve.
Cleanliness and smooth running of facilities within the healthcare institutions must be of paramount importance. Our medical staff and patients deserve to be treated and working in a clean environment free of gems. The uncollected garbage expose patients and nurses to diseases. Cleanliness must not be compromised.
The IFP further calls upon the Human Rights Commission to institute its own investigation into the conditions at Addington Hospital. Our people deserve to be treated with respect and dignity.
The IFP will raise this matter with Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Health in the KZN Legislature so that the Committee conducts an urgent oversight visit to see first hand what is happening.
The IFP will further pursue this matter by submitting written questions to seek suitable answer on how the MEC and the Department intends to fix all challenges facing the Addington Hospital.
–
Contact:
Mrs Ncamisile Nkwanyana,MPL
IFP KZN Provincial Spokesperson on Health,
078 302 3991
