The Democratic Alliance (DA)\u2019s Gauteng Shadow MEC for health, Jack Bloom, expressed his concerns about the Bertha Gxowa Hospital.<\/p>\n
Bloom\u2019s biggest concern was the waiting time at the out-patients department (OPD).<\/p>
\u201cDuring my visit to the hospital, recently, I discovered that the waiting period at the out-patients department is too long as patients had waited for three to four hours,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Bloom alleged that there was a shortage of doctors at the hospital on the same day.<\/p>
\u201cThere were only two doctors at the out-patients department instead of the seven needed,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cThirty patients were not seen on the Monday and had to come back the next day, and another 30 were not seen on Tuesday and had to return on the Wednesday.\u201d<\/p>\n
The hospital\u2019s communications officer, Thabile Mnguni, explained the challenges that led to the delays.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first week of the year was a challenge as the hospital had an unexpected large influx of critical, unstable and fairly stable patients,\u201d said Mnguni.<\/p>\n
\u201cOrdinarily we have five to seven doctors in the OPD, but we only had four doctors as two doctors were on leave and one doctor reported sick.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll patients were seen by a doctor in triage and in OPD and stable patients were requested to return the following day for further assessment.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are aware that we have a challenge of long-waiting times particularly at the OPD.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe bulk of the problem is largely due to the file retrieval process, which is estimated at 30 to 45 minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bloom also said the paper filing system used at the hospital should be replaced with a modern system.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was disappointed that there has been slow progress towards an electronic system to replace the troublesome paper files for patients,\u201d said Bloom.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a modern hospital that should be run on a modern system.<\/p>\n
\u201cWaiting times should improve by April, this year, as all chronic patients will have been given booked appointment times by then.<\/p>\n
\u201cPatients reluctant to go to the clinics and inappropriate referrals are also among the factors contributing towards the lengthy waiting periods,\u201d explained Mnguni.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are, however, working on solutions to alleviate the challenges.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe triage system is in place to redirect patients to the appropriate level of care, including clinics.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe hospital engages with clinics to implement the referral policy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe hospital is in a process of migrating to a new filing system as per the mandate of the department, the new filing system will assist towards a paperless system.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope that the promised improvements will be evident on my next visit,\u201d concluded Bloom.<\/p>\n
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