Confusion and concern have arisen over the state of surgical services at Tambo Memorial Hospital, following sharply conflicting accounts from the DA and the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH).

The DA Gauteng Provincial Caucus has alleged that patients could face delays of up to two months for surgical procedures due to renovations in the hospital’s operating theatre complex.

While acknowledging the need to upgrade ageing infrastructure, the party criticised the department for what it described as a failure to implement contingency plans for patients awaiting elective surgeries.

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According to the DA, at least one patient reported being turned away when attempting to schedule a hip replacement, allegedly being told that no operations would take place for ‘at least two months.’ The party said the patient, who had endured months of worsening pain, was left distressed and without alternatives.

The DA also raised concerns about reported conditions in parts of the hospital, describing outpatient areas as disorganised and citing allegations of poor administrative practices. It claimed that medical waste had been left exposed near patient waiting areas, alongside blood-stained surfaces, raising fears of infection risks.

The party warned that without proper planning, infrastructure upgrades could exacerbate existing service delivery challenges.

It also suggested that delays in public health projects have historically extended beyond initial timelines and budgets.

Department dismisses claims
However, the GDoH has strongly rejected these claims, describing them as ‘misleading’ and based on unverified information.

In a statement, the department said there are no renovations taking place at the operating theatre complex and that all six theatres at the hospital are fully functional.

It maintained that surgical services are continuing without disruption and that no patients have been instructed to delay procedures due to infrastructure constraints.

The department clarified that while maintenance work on air-handling units is planned, this will be conducted in a manner that does not interrupt services. It added that any future refurbishment work would follow a phased approach to ensure continuity of care.

GDoH further stated that no decision has been taken to suspend or delay surgeries and that no patients have been turned away as a result of infrastructure-related issues. It said elective procedures are proceeding according to standard booking systems, while emergency cases continue to receive priority attention.

Responding to allegations about the hospital conditions, the department said it would initiate internal verification processes and take corrective action where necessary.

Patients experiencing difficulties are encouraged to make use of formal complaint channels to allow for proper investigation. Alternatively, complaints can be directed to the quality assurance manager via email at Vicentia.Rambau@gauteng.gov.za or by calling 011 898 8027.

The department also criticised the DA for what it described as irresponsible conduct, arguing that the dissemination of unverified claims risks causing unnecessary alarm and undermining public confidence in the healthcare system.

R567m upgrade underway since 2024
The dispute comes against the backdrop of a major refurbishment project at the hospital, launched in May 2024 and valued at approximately R567 million.

The multi-phase upgrade is expected to continue until August 2027 and includes demolition of old structures, construction of new facilities, and refurbishment of existing buildings.

While hospital management had previously indicated that services would be relocated where necessary to minimise disruption, it also acknowledged that some level of inconvenience during construction was unavoidable.
Hospital upgrade progress remains unclear
Despite repeated requests for clarity, the department had not, at the time of publication, provided responses to questions regarding the progress of the hospital’s refurbishment project.

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