MEC asked to deliver on casualty commitment

For almost three years the Newcastle Provincial Hospital, now a mother and child care facility, has been operating without a casualty department.

This despite a commitment made by the MEC for Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo during post-move public meetings, to have a casualty service available at the hospital.

Today Dr Imran Keeka, member of provincial parliament and spokesperson for health in the province, put forward notice of a motion,which will ask that the MEC ‘honours that commitment and that the matter of establishing a casualty and related services is undertaken forthwith.’

Dr Keeka detailed the motion he would be putting forth in the next sitting of the provincial house in a post on his Facebook page. According to this post, MEC Dhlomo has offered, during a health debate, to revisit Newcastle to talk about the ‘thorny issue of the hospital’.

“This commitment was repeatedly made. I move for the house to resolve that MEC Dhlomo honours that commitment and that the matter of establishing a casualty and related services is undertaken forthwith,” read the motion.

“This could be the turning point for health care facilities in Newcastle,” said a local resident, who wanted to remain anonymous. “I hear way too many horrible stories about these hospitals.”