Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) has rejected claims that Helen Joseph Tertiary Hospital’s emergency department has effectively closed, insisting patients continue to receive treatment despite acknowledged staffing challenges.

The response follows a notice circulating on social media on August 7 claiming that priority two (yellow) patients could not be attended to. The department said the notice was unauthorised and did not reflect the official position of either the hospital or the Gauteng Department of Health.

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Following this notice, the Democratic Alliance (DA) on August 19 alleged that patients arriving at the hospital’s emergency department were being advised to seek treatment elsewhere after staff shortages reportedly left the unit under severe pressure.

In response, GDoH spokesperson Steve Mabona said patients continue to be received, assessed and treated according to established emergency triage protocols and stressed that no patients requiring medical attention would be refused care. “The challenges are in receiving attention, with the department working on appropriate interventions to ensure the continued provision of safe and quality healthcare services.”

Mabona also highlighted that the department reminded employees that communication regarding hospital operations must follow approved communication channels and urged members of the public to rely on official departmental updates regarding healthcare services. “Official information is communicated through authorised departmental communication platforms.”

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The department sincerely apologised to patients, families and the public for the anxiety and confusion caused by the unauthorised communication. “The public is urged to rely on official GDoH and hospital communication channels for verified information regarding healthcare services.”

The publication sent GDoH questions regarding allegations that some healthcare workers have not been paid since April, medical officers’ contracts had not been renewed, or that doctors had resigned because of the ongoing staffing situation.

The department acknowledged receipt of the query but had not responded at the time of publishing.

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