Sunshine Hospital to close its doors
Ken Ford, who lives in Cape Town, said he had to board a plane to Johannesburg on March 12 to break the sad news to his staff on March 13.
Over 100 staff at Sunshine Hospital in Actonville are uncertain if they will still be employed next month following news that the 20-year-old hospital will close its doors.
The announcement of the closure comes after the Road Accident Fund failed to pay the outstanding debt accumulated since last year, leaving the hospital with no option but to close down.
Speaking to the Benoni City Times on March 15, the owner of the hospital, Ken Ford, said he is devastated that this decision had to be made.
“It is sad that a fully equipped hospital with 200 beds and professional staff has to close because the RAF hasn’t paid us. My heart goes out to the staff who will be without work. We aimed to create employment and not unemployment,” he said.
The challenges started in June last year, Ford explained, adding that they remained hopeful up to the point that the demand became too much.
“We stopped taking in patients before the end of January. We only have a few patients who are still being treated and once they have fully recovered, they will be released,” he said.
Ford, who lives in Cape Town, said he had to board a plane to Johannesburg on March 12 to break the sad news to his staff on March 13.
“I have assured staff that they will be paid what is due to them,” he said.
Road Accident Fund responds
According to Road Accident Fund’s Media and PR Unit, RAF is not responsible for Sunshine Hospital’s financial predicament.
“ Due to alleged fraudulent claims that are under investigation, the RAF cannot honour payments for invalid invoices that are not in line with the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA). Meanwhile, RAF patients will be transferred to other public facilities offering similar services if necessary.”
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