Crowded Edenvale Hospital needs to be expanded – DA

The Democratic Alliance has expressed concerns regarding overcrowding at the Edenvale Hospital.

Jack Bloom, MPL, DA Gauteng shadow MEC for health, said the hospital is severely overcrowded, with some patients on stretchers in the corridors.

“I observed this when I did an oversight visit to the hospital on September 19.

“There are 230 beds but more than 250 admitted patients at any one time. The Casualty Department is the worst affected as patients can wait there for up to a week before being admitted to a ward,”said Bloom.

He said the maternity ward was also very busy, with more patients than available beds but said the pharmacy has improved except for periods of high pressure.

Bloom said he was disappointed that there are delays in expanding this hospital which takes in large numbers of patients, some from as far away as Diepsloot and Tembisa.

“Ideally, there should be new wards for 100 extra beds and a new casualty. The entrance area should be expanded with more seating, and there should be two more operating theatres in addition to the present three theatres,” he said.

He said the planned reopening of the Kempton Park Hospital would also assist in taking pressure off the Edenvale and Tembisa hospitals.

“I hope that building projects are done as soon as possible as the overcrowding is getting worse as the population grows,” said Bloom.

A request for comment was sent to Gauteng Health Department on September 19, with a request for comment by 10am on September 21.

No comment had been received at the time of publication.