Residents petition to bring back hospital

More than 3,000 residents have signed the petition to bring emergency services back to Newcastle Provincial Hospital (NPH).

March 18, 2019

Bruce Douglas 2 minutes read

UPDATE: Residents petition to bring back hospital

Mona Maharaj, one of the driving forces behind the petition, said with these thousands of signatures on record, they hoped to meet with MEC for Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo in the near future.

To this end, they were also consulting with healthcare professionals.

“We also approached management of NPH and were informed a senior member of management had resigned, and the matter was now with the acting person in that position.”

Although no formal response has been received from NPH, senior officials from the hospital said response was at the desk of the Newcastle Department of Health (DOH).

However, the response seems to be stuck there.

Despite multiple calls to local spokeswoman for DOH, Nonhlanhla Khuzwayo, she is yet to provide insight as to the department’s stance on the petition matter.

In the meantime, more residents are making themselves heard.

La Gratitude’s Deidre-Lee Hannon explained the facility had also collected a large number of signatures from nurses, elderly residents and staff members.

These have been forwarded on to relevant authorities.

“When you go through the home, it’s a frail care facility which means some are bed-ridden and can’t care for themselves. Imagine the trauma of being taken out of bed to visit a clinic, then being referred and having to travel to Madadeni Regional Hospital.”

Hannon explained in La Gratitude’s case, there was a single small vehicle available, which can fit at most two elderly residents and their wheelchairs.

A nurse is also required to accompany them.

“Counting petrol, food, adult diapers and time, it costs us R250 per trip and that’s killing us.”

Other concerns from Hannon include the many hours frail elderly residents have to wait at Madadeni Hospital.

Thus to have full service restored to NPH would be a lifeline to them.

“We need this for everyone, especially those people who are too sick and those who don’t have access to medical aid.”

Staff members agreed the restoration of services – even just for stabilisation in case of emergencies – would be a huge convenience to state patients.

This would also reduce any delays with ambulance transport.

Nancy Ndlangamandla said the cost saving benefit of having services available at NPH would be welcome, while Thobile Msimango noted the misfortunate reality of the elderly having to wait long times in queues for healthcare.