During an oversight visit at the hospital by the Democratic Alliance (DA), it is alleged that they found the operating theatres non-functional and this has been an issue since May 2022. DA Health spokesperson in the provincial legislature, Mariëtte Pittaway, says that air conditioners are out of order due to vandalism and they also found leaking roofs in the theatres. “We were informed that only emergency procedures are being done in the theatres.” She adds that operating without air conditioners, in high temperatures is an extreme risk and it increases the chance of infections. The broken air-conditioners are only one of the challenges at the Boitumelo Hospital.

The DA is of the view that there is little to no general maintenance taking place at the hospital. “Boitumelo Hospital is part of the nationally funded hospital revitalisation programme, and upgrading commenced in 2009. Contract 12 of this programme, which includes an ICU, is still not completed as scheduled in 2014,” said Pittaway. The party further alleges that there currently is a backlog of 2 947 surgeries in the province.

ALSO READ: Solutions for troubled #Pelonomi

She explains that on several occasions, patients have been prepped for surgery and taken to theatre, only to be returned to their rooms without surgery. One of the patients at the hospital, who the DA spoke to that was admitted in August 2022, was the 88-year-old Grieta Monteiro. She had a broken hip and was scheduled for a “marathon blitz” in order for the hospital to catch up on the backlog of surgeries. However, Monteiro never got her “marathon blitz”. Her family took a decision to get her discharged as they were not pleased with the type of treatment she was receiving.

Another patient the DA got a hold of, is Sabina Esterhuizen (53), who was admitted with a femur fracture. She was prepped and pushed to the operating theatre only to find that the air conditioner was out of order, no traction beds were available and there was no water. She then discharged herself as a result of the poor treatment she received and is currently seeking treatment in a different province. It is alleged upon her departure, the porters were instructed to remove her bandages as they are hospital property.

ALSO READ: Pelonomi se probleme groter as gebrek aan spesialiste

The issue of a backlog of orthopaedic surgeries in the province is not an unusual issue. In early 2022, some of the patients at the province’s foremost trauma hospital, the Pelonomi Hospital, complained about having to wait a long period of time at the hospital before getting operated. A doctor – who spoke anonymously - outlined some of the challenges that have led to the backlog of orthopaedic operations at the hospital. The doctor at the time said there is a critical shortage of nurses and the shortage is worse after hours and on weekends. Due to the shortage of nurses – only one theatre can be used for all trauma cases.

Amongst the shortage of staff, there was also a shortage of medical accessories, such as syringe needles and protective clothing, as well as a backlog of equipment maintenance and a shortage of linen. The staff shortage also not only affects nurses, but also security guards and cleaners. Doctors and nurses reportedly have to step in regularly to get the theatre ready for the next surgery.

ALSO READ: Universitas, Pelonomi postpone some surgeries due to water crisis

In response to the complaints of the patients – at the time, the provincial department of health’s spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi, said the staff at the hospital are also overwhelmed by the huge demand for orthopaedic services due to high volumes of cases of trauma, violence, and injury, which require more theatre space, time, and resources. He also explained that the department is working relentlessly to strengthen healthcare services and remove the burden of high volumes of referrals to Pelonomi by strengthening orthopaedic services at lower levels of care. At the time there was an outreach done by the Boitumelo Hospital to ensure that the hospital becomes a "centre of excellence" in the near future.  

An enquiry was sent to the provincial department of health for a comment on the state of the Boitumelo Hospital.

OFM News