Under the microscope – Elderly healthcare worsens rapidly
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is demanding answers following claims that the elderly have been refused medical-care at Newcastle Provincial Hospital.
Further concerns have surfaced regarding the contentious health systems in the district.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is demanding answers following claims that the elderly have been refused medical-care at Newcastle Provincial Hospital.
A recent KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Quality of Life standing committee visit to an old age facility revealed many of disabled, elderly and frail people have allegedly been refused treatment at the hospital.
DA spokesperson on the provincial health, and Member of the Provincial Legislature, Dr Imran Keeka said: “The situation is so bad that even those who require urgent attention are being transported to Madadeni Provincial Hospital some 25km away.”
Dr Keeka said the situation was unacceptable, and reflected the uncaring attitude of the KZN Department of Health (DoH). “The situation exists in spite of a public assurance by KZN Health MEC, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, that a casualty facility would operate at the hospital.
This after it was changed to a mother and child facility without any public participation just over two years ago,’ claimed Dr Keeka. In place of a fully-operational casualty ward, there is only one room, with two beds, staffed by part-time private doctors.
Apparently, the elderly were often ignored and neglected at Madadeni Hospital . Dr Keeka said this was humiliating and degrading and detrimental to their already delicate state of health.
“It is clear that the Newcastle Hospital emergency facility is not providing the services it has been set up to render. The current situation at the hospital is untenable. It is compromising the integrity, dignity, liberty and security of the elderly in particular and is in direct contravention of the rights outlined in Section 30 of the Older Person’s Act.”
The DA has since called on Dr Dhlomo to instruct this hospital’s emergency facility, as well as Madadeni Provincial Hospital to prioritise elderly, frail and disabled citizens. Spokesperson for the MEC, Desmond Motha, said the idea that the casualty ward was not operational, should be alien and non-existent in the hospital.
“There is always a doctor on hand to see to the patients who are being treated at the hospital. These doctors should be attending to the patients in the casualty ward as well, as they have been mandated by the DoH.”
He said the operational functionality of both hospitals was currently being addressed.
