Haphazardly stacked patients’ files a cause for enormous concern
A DIRE shortage of office space have resulted in patients' files being piled haphazardly on office floors at FW Knobel Hospital in the Aganang area

A DIRE shortage of office space and basic utilities such as cupboards have resulted in patients’ files being piled haphazardly on office floors at FW Knobel Hospital in the Aganang area, causing fears that patients’ files are not safe and could be lost.
During a recent visit to the hospital by DA Limpopo leader, Jacques Smalle, defective equipment such as crutches, beds and bed steps were also found allegedly dumped. Smalle said in most cases there were only minor defects such crutches without rubbers and beds with wheels missing.
He said it was clear that the medical staff operated under extremely strenuous conditions at the hospital. Resuscitation rooms had been turned into office space for staff with patients’ files scattered on the floor, he said.
“These findings sharply contradict the stance taken by health MEC, Ms Letsatsi-Duba who continues to downplay the impact of medical equipment dumping.
“The DA calls upon MEC Letsatsi-Duba to urgently come up with a workable plan which will see these medical equipments fixed and put to use by our hospitals,” he said.
Department spokesperson Adéle van der Linde denied the allegations that usable equipment had been dumped.
She said equipment was stored there to be fixed.