Hospitals reaching capacity
12/06/2007 22:00  - (SA)  

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Pretoria - Several hundred patients who could not be helped at public hospitals due to the public service strike have been admitted to private hospitals across the country, the Hospital Association of South Africa (Hasa) said on Tuesday.

The association which represents almost all private hospitals in the country said it was experiencing capacity constraints and has thus limited transfers to priority cases.

"More specifically, we have experienced neo-natal shortages and our triage units are reporting some capacity-related difficulties," said Kurt Worrall-Clare, Hasa chief executive.

Some areas were experiencing a shortage of intensive care unit and neo-natal beds.

The private hospital sector has 28 000 beds compared to over 100 000 in the public sector.

Worrall-Clare said it could not disclose the cost implications of the private sector taking care of public hospital patients.

"Hasa can not disclose the financial arrangements between the state and the respective hospitals as each facility, or group, has discussed this separately."

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