Gauteng to improve hospital care
2012-10-28 21:32
Johannesburg - Gauteng health department will be improving the services and quality of care at the province's four biggest hospitals, it said on Sunday.
The hospitals' intensive care units would get priority attention, said spokesperson Simon Zwane.
He said the hospitals were Chris Hani Baragwanath, Steve Biko Academic, Dr George Mukhari and Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic, which were the busiest in the province.
They were busy employing staff in critical areas to turn around health care in Gauteng.
"The MEC for health [Hope Papo]... has stated that the implementation of the turnaround strategy is non-negotiable and all institutions have to implement measures to ensure that patients experience a better service," said Zwane
Democratic Alliance MPL Jack Bloom said the steps were welcome and long overdue, but that even more needed to be done.
"We hope it brings down the long waiting list for operations at these hospitals," Bloom said, but added: "None of these measures will succeed unless the most competent people are appointed."
Management
He said there were also other hospitals which needed "radical improvement", and that this would start "with better management".
Zwane said Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital recently appointed 141 nurses, four pharmacists, 20 cleaners and 10 security officers.
The hospital delivered around 2 000 babies a month, many of them from mothers who experienced complications while giving birth, he said.
"The capacity of the neonatal intensive care unit has been increased to improve care for very ill children with low birth weight."
He said a campaign to discourage littering had also been initiated and around 100 additional bins had been distributed throughout the hospital to improve cleanliness.
The Steve Biko Academic Hospital had started the process of employing anaesthesiologists and nurses.
"[Dr] George Mukhari [hospital] plans to increase the number of intensive care unit beds and install maternity theatres," Zwane said.
"Charlotte Maxeke [Johannesburg Academic] hospital is in the process of appointing retired nurses to work at its help desk assisting patients and visitors with vital information they need to access services."
He said the senior managers did daily rounds checking on cleanliness, and that the hospital had filled more than 240 vacant posts.
- SAPA
