Patients have to ‘run for cover’ as rats fight about food at Tembisa Hospital
Tembisa Hospital's spokesman acknowledged the problem and said measures to curb the problem were being put in place
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Nurses at Tembisa Hospital are complaining about the influx of large rats, which are roaming the hospital during working hours.
The nurses claim the rats are making it hard for them to do their jobs in a conducive environment.
Nurses also allege there are areas where patients have to run for cover when big rats fight for food right inside hospital wards.
A nurse, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said it was difficult to concentrate when working under such horrible conditions.
“Personally, I am afraid of rats. Sometimes I go to work with a stick to protect myself. Instead of helping patients freely, we now have to dodge rats in the corridors and in some wards, especially in the northern side of the hospital.
“We have addressed this situation with authorities but nothing has come of it. I hope hospital management can stop this situation soon because it is a health risk,” she said.
Some of the nurses also claim the situation is worse at the hospital’s mortuary.
“I don’t even want to say what the rats are doing there, because it is really bad,” she said.
Tembisa Hospital spokesman, Lesibana Ledwaba, acknowledged the problem with rats at the hospital.
In a written response to The Tembisan’s inquiry about the allegations, Ledwaba said, “Some of the areas in the hospital near the field experience challenges with rat infestation from time to time.
“The hospital’s environmental health practitioner and the pest control service provider have worked tirelessly to rid the hospital of rats. Measures have been put in place to monitor affected areas.”
