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Frere: No equipment problems
30/07/2007 15:46 - (SA)
Cape Town - No babies died at East London's Frere Hospital as a result of equipment not being available, the special task team appointed to probe the issue said on Monday.
However, quality and infection control policy at the public hospital needed to be "robustly enforced".
Basic equipment was available, but in certain instances required replacement, the team said in its report.
"On direct questioning of the ward staff, clinicians and hospital management, we were assured that no babies had died as a result of non-availability of equipment.
"The ward and clinical staff were very offended by the statement that they 'played God' by deciding which baby lived or died, as it was an untrue statement."
Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang appointed the team on July 13 to visit the Eastern Cape to obtain the facts relating to a report in the Daily Dispatch newspaper on July 12.
The article reported the alleged high number of deaths of babies in the maternity section of Frere Hospital.
The team comprised of Professor Ronald Green-Thompson, special adviser to the minister, Dr Thabo Sibeko, Chief Director: Hospital Services, and Dr Nat Khaole, Director: Women's Health and Genetics. Necessary equipment
In its report, the team said there were baumanometers (blood pressure machines) at all bed-sides in the admission room and labour ward except for one bedside.
There were blood pressure machines present in the antenatal clinic and in the wards.
There were three ultrasound machines in the maternity unit. A colour Doppler machine was available in the antenatal clinic, a further machine in the labour ward (old, but functional) and one in the gynaecology section, the report said.
There were 18 incubators - eight were new, four in good working condition and six were old but functional and required constant repair. There was also a transport incubator.
There were sufficient ventilators for neonates in the current Neonatal intensive care unit (ICU).
Neonates that required ventilation were either transported across the road to the main hospital ICU or transferred to Cecilia Makiwane Hospital neonatal ICU. Incubators to be replacesd Scales were present for weighing patients and measuring heights but were old, and there were eight cardiotocograph (CTG) machines.
The task team recommended, among other things, the six old and often faulty incubators be replaced.
Additional neonatal ventilators should be purchased to supplement the available ones.
The procurement of new scales for weight and height measuring of antenatal patients should also be considered.
Further, the old, though functional, ultrasound machine in the labour ward needed to be replaced.
An equipment asset register should be maintained and an equipment replacement policy and programme be developed and implemented.
The budget of the hospital should ensure an adequate allocation for an equipment maintenance and replacement programme. Infection control
The report also recommended that the quality and infection control policy at Frere be robustly enforced.
Among the team's findings, was that the management of soiled linen was inadequate - blood stained linen was not immediately sluiced and put into containers, or stored such that it was not out in the open.
As the hospital was built a number of years ago, the number and positioning of washbasins in the clinical areas was not optimal.
The scrub basin in the caesarean section theatre in the maternity unit was inside the theatre which compromised infection control.
Regarding human resources, the report said it was apparent during the team's visit that the majority of the staff "is highly committed and skilled". More staff
But, it was also clear that there was a need to increase the staffing ratios.
The Health Department said in a statement on Monday it had decided to release the report of the investigation to "ensure that members of the public who have an interest on the matter can have full access to the report".
The Democratic Alliance last week threatened constitutional steps unless Tshabalala-Msimang released the full report.
However, the department responded by saying it had sent the report to the National Assembly's health committee.
Committee chair James Ngculu confirmed having received the report, but said it would only be released after the committee had visited the hospital early next month.
On Friday, the DA submitted an application in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act for the release of the report. 'Unsubstantiated allegations'
In its statement on Monday, the department said the DA and the Congress of SA Trade Unions Cosatu in the Eastern Cape "continue to make unsubstantiated allegations suggesting that there is some form of cover up relating to this matter".
"We hope that the release of the report will stop the two organisations from their joint campaign to mislead the public by spreading wrong information to promote their own political agenda with regard to Frere Hospital," the department said.
- SAPA
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