Major orthopaedic operations at Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Tshwane have been affected by failures in the hospital’s air-conditioning system, prompting concerns about surgical delays and patient care, reports Pretoria Rekord.

The Gauteng Department of Health confirmed that surgical services were continuing, but said higher temperatures had made longer and more complex operations unsuitable under the current conditions.

Madeleine Hicklin, the DA’s Gauteng spokesperson for health, said earlier this week that patients needing major orthopaedic surgery had faced postponements because the operating theatre complex’s air-conditioning system had failed.

According to Hicklin, this was the second such incident in less than 12 months.

Hicklin said the DA had received complaints from patients admitted with broken bones whose operations had been postponed because theatre temperatures could not be adequately controlled.

She said shorter procedures were continuing, while complex fracture repairs and hip and knee replacements remained suspended. The DA also raised concerns about reported theatre temperatures exceeding 20°C, compared with the approximately 18°C requirement it cited for safe operating conditions.

Operating theatre ventilation and temperature control are important for maintaining suitable surgical conditions and managing infection risks.

Department outlines chiller replacement plan

Gauteng health department spokesperson Steve Mabona said the department was managing the affected patients according to their clinical needs and facilitating access to appropriate care, including through contingency arrangements.

“The department continues to manage the repair and replacement of the air-conditioning at the hospital. Five chillers will be replaced over a six-week period, while one additional chiller will be replaced over a period of three months,” Mabona said.

He acknowledged the impact of the infrastructure challenges on patients, staff, students and healthcare partners.

The department said contingency measures, including the use of other public hospitals, had been implemented to ensure that other surgical cases could continue where appropriate.

DA demands accountability over hospital infrastructure

The DA in Gauteng has called on Premier Panyaza Lesufi to hold Health MEC Faith Mazibuko and Infrastructure Development MEC Jacob Mamabolo accountable for the hospital’s infrastructure problems.

The party has also submitted questions to Mazibuko seeking clarity on how many chillers had been refurbished, how much the work had cost and why contractors responsible for maintenance and repairs had allegedly not completed the work.

The department’s planned replacement of six chillers is expected to take place over different periods, with five scheduled for replacement within six weeks and the remaining unit over three months.

The full extent of the disruption, including the number of patients whose operations have been postponed and when complex orthopaedic procedures will resume, was not specified in the information provided by the department.

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