New CEOs for 5 Gauteng hospitals
2010-01-28 22:57
Johannesburg - Five new chief executive officers have been appointed at Gauteng state hospitals to stabilise, improve and sustain the quality of services, Health and Social Development MEC Quedani Mahlangu said on Thursday.
This was a part of Operation Kuyasheshwe-la, which was launched in June last year.
"They know that they can't manage from their offices... they know that they cannot give me any excuses," Mahlangu said of the new appointments.
"Things are improving, but they know that they can do better... I'll be very happy when people can go in and out of hospital within two hours as opposed to them waiting the whole day in queues."
The new chief executive officers are: Johanna More, Chris Hani-Baragwanath Hospital; Dr Tiego Selebano, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital; Dr Lancelot Phalatsi, Kalafong Hospital; Dr Lekopane Mogaladi, Far East Rand Hospital; and Dr Zolela Ngcwabe, Sebokeng Hospital.
They would have to report to the MEC every two months on any improvement at their hospitals and the rate of mortality. Hospital cleanliness would also form part of their performance contracts.
Recruited from private sector
Some of the new appointments were recruited from the private sector.
"Dr Selebano was recruited from Netcare and we are pleased that he has chosen to join the public sector where he can make a difference in the health of the majority...
"Dr Mogaladi was running his own practice... we believe that he will help us improve the quality of health care at the Far East Rand Hospital."
Mahlangu said the department was also able to intervene in hospitals where there was a need to strengthen management.
"In these instances we have conducted competency assessment and placed them accordingly in their strengths."
Based on that criteria, managers in these hospitals have also been placed at central office or regional offices and new managers deployed.
Pholosong and Tambo Memorial Hospitals would be given priority in the next phase to strengthen management in the areas of finance, clinical and nursing.
Mahlangu said long queues also continued to be a problem.
Commitment
"It's sad to hear granny say that she woke up at five in the morning, so she could be first in the queue," she said, adding that a report on this matter would be presented during the budget speech later this year.
Doctors would also be monitored to see if they arrived on time.
"Doctors must know their commitment, and the CEOs must take responsibility."
The Democratic Alliance welcomed the new appointments.
"I hope that they can turn around the fortunes of these troubled hospitals, especially the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital that has been without a permanent CEO for 15 months," DA Gauteng Health spokesperson Jack Bloom said.
"There are other hospitals, however, that desperately need new leadership, such as Natalspruit and Leratong, which are notoriously bad for patients.
"The remaining CEO posts must be filled as soon as possible with competent and honest people," Bloom said.
- SAPA