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'One nurse to 32-bed ward'
22/07/2007 17:49 - (SA)
Johannesburg - The health department says the Eastern Cape's Frere Hospital maintenance budget must be increased drastically.
The department recommended that the R3.5m maintenance budget be increased to 5% of the hospital's total budget.
A task team was appointed to investigate the hospital after 43 babies born at the hospital died the last month.
A total of 2 000 babies were stillborn at the Frere hospital the past 14 years , according to the "abortions and stillbirth book" in the labour ward.
The team's investigation found that the maternity unit, neonatal unit and neonatal ICU were understaffed.
During an unannounced visit to one 32-bed ward, the task team found just one professional nurse and one nursing assistant on duty.
There was also an urgent need to increase the number of porters, messengers, general assistants and clerical staff at the hospital.
The broken electronic nurse-calling system also had to be replaced.
The statement went on to say: "Basic equipment was available and interviews with the clinical staff and hospital management indicated that no baby has died as a result of the non-availability of equipment."
The hospital had to replace six of its 18 incubators.
It was also recommended that elbow-operated taps and additional hand-washing basins be installed to aid infection control.
The findings also stated that the number of unnecessary referrals to Frere hospital had to be reduced so that staff could concentrate on high-risk patients.
- SAPA
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