Telephone lines down at hospital an inconvenience

Complaints of anxious relatives unable to contact the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital reached DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC Jack Bloom.
Bloom said on July 22 one of these complainants had notified him that the hospital phones were broken.

“I tested this myself several times, receiving a message that my call could not be completed. It is unclear why the switchboard is broken, but the hospital has blamed load-shedding in the past for telephone failures.

“According to a written reply to my questions in the Gauteng legislature earlier this year, 25 public hospitals have recently experienced switchboard problems, sometimes for weeks on end. Most of these problems are blamed on outdated switchboards,” said Bloom.

He added that it was hugely distressing when people couldn’t get through to a hospital to find out how their loved ones were doing. Bloom said patients also lose out when they cannot contact hospitals to get information for their medical needs and staff have to use their mobile phones to contact patients.

“Some hospitals have had persistent telephone problems for more than 10 years. I will continue to push for the upgrading of switchboards in our hospitals as they perform a vital function.”

Charlotte Maxeke Hospital spokesperson Lungiswa Mvumvu said, “We are experiencing a problem with our telephone lines due to this ongoing load-shedding. There is a public notice issued on alternative numbers to call. We also devised a plan internally on how to help our patients.”

Members of the public can use the following alternative numbers:

Switchboard – 011 643 2522

Casualty – 010 214 0195

Radiation Oncology – 010 214 0490

Night matrons – 010 214 0526

Block 4 theatre – 010 214 0713.

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