Staff shortages crippling hospital

Only three nurses have to deliver around 50 babies a day at the Tembisa Hospital.

Further, due to the absence of a delivery theatre in the labour ward, expecting mothers are moved to the general surgical ward for caesarean deliveries.

This was just one of several shocking discoveries made at the hospital by MEC Refiloe Nt’sekhe, MPL, the DA shadow MEC for Agriculture, Rural and Social Development. She is also the DA deputy shadow MEC for health. The discoveries were made during a recent oversight visit to the Tembisa Hospital.

“I witnessed severe staff, equipment and supply shortages at a facility that serves a community of over 200 000 people,” she said.

“Most wards had non-working hand sterilisation equipment, increasing the risk of patient infection. The burns unit usually does amazing work, however, the theatre in this ward is also non-operational from damage caused by heavy rain,” she said.

Adding to these issues, the hospital also caters for residents from Diepsloot, who travel 30 kilometres to use the Tembisa Hospital, as opposed to their local hospital, the Helen Joseph Hospital.

In light of this visit, MEC Nt’sekhe will table questions to the Gauteng MEC of Health, Qedani Mahlangu.

Questions on her list include why the blood bank is experiencing such heavy shortages, whether steps have been taken to install a theatre in the maternity ward, whether the health department has made efforts to recruit more nurses, when the theatre in the burns unit is expected to be fixed and why patients are travelling from Diepsloot to this hospital, despite a hospital in their area.

“The staff shortages at this hospital, coupled with the lack of equipment and essential supplies, cannot be ignored. This only impacts on the quality of care that patients receive and increases the risk for infection and further complications,” she said.

“Given the shortfalls the Tembisa Hospital faces, I would like to acknowledge Sister Ramale, who I met during my visit. She leads a team of nurses who look after 70 premature babies.

“She encourages mothers to practice the Kangaroo mother care technique. The Kangaroo mother care technique is one in which breastfed premature infants remain in skin-to-skin contact on the mother’s chest, as opposed to being placed in an incubator – which leads to lasting, positive brain development.

“Sister Ramale’s passion for her job and caring for the community is inspiring. On behalf of the DA, we applaud her for her excellence.”