Hospital board scrutinises facilities
A surprise inspection on all emergency areas and wards at the Newcastle Provincial Hospital was conducted by board members.
Last week the director of the Hospital Board, Farouk Rehman and all board members, along with the district health manager and acting hospital manager, Mamusa Tshabalala, conducted a surprise inspection of all emergency areas and wards at the Newcastle Provincial Hospital.
This followed allegations of the mistreatment of a two-year-old girl when no doctor was available to treat her. Mr Rehman explained that he was determined to investigate and find answers to questions raised by concerned residents.
“We found that all equipment was present in the emergency areas. The reason why the girl was not treated surgically, is because the hospital is a mother and infant care facility. Instructions have been issued that all patients must first be stabilised before being referred to Madadeni Hospital for surgical treatment,” explained Mr Rehman.
“Most days only very few or no patients arrive at the hospital who require attention from a doctor. It is not cost effective to pay doctors if there is not a constant stream of patients,” said Mr Rehman. “We have doctors on emergency standby 24 hours of the day who are ready to come to the aid of patients that are seriously injured,” he added.
Mr Rehman was concerned about the extended waiting period at Madadeni Hospital and asked Ms Tshabalala to investigate the matter.
The investigation induced Mr Rehman to call for visible signage, to direct patients to the appropriate sections of the building, to ensure an effortless treatment process.
“During the investigation we found that the nurses had examined the child’s’ wound and bandaged her hand before referring her to Madadeni. This follows protocol that is currently in place for such patients,” said Mr Rehman.
“A board meeting has been planned to work out contingency plans for the coming festive season to make sure the facility can cope with the need that will most certainly arise during the coming weeks. We have also called for all security personnel to be trained on the layout of the hospital, and whom to contact in case of medical emergencies,” concluded Mr Rehman.
