Johannesburg – The Gauteng Department of Health says it “noted with disappointment” misleading claims by Gauteng Member of the Provincial Legislature Dr. Jack Bloom that patients at Bheki Mlangeni Hospital sleep on plastic covers without bedding.
Dr. Bloom, the Democratic Alliance Shadow Health MEC, said: “Patients at the Bheki Mlangeni Hospital in Soweto are still sleeping on plastic two months after I exposed the laundry crisis there”.
Dr. Bloom said patients at the Bheki Mlangeni Hospital in Soweto were still sleeping on plastic two months after he exposed the laundry crisis there.
“I was astonished to discover this after receiving more complaints from people in the hospital,” said Dr. Bloom.
“Patients bring their own blankets to keep warm, and the infection risk is increased.
“The problem is that most of their linen was damaged when stored in large piles because the laundry machines to clean them were broken at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.
However, the Gauteng Department of Health said the picture (Above) Dr. Bloom shared with the media were not a true depiction of the reality at Bheki Mlangeni Hospital.
“The facility has no wards with similar paints or floors as depicted in the photos,” the department said.
“Contrary to the claims made, Bheki Mlangeni Hospital currently has enough clean linen in the institutional linen bank to cover all the demands from various wards.
“Previously, the hospital relied on Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital’s laundry services, but due to capacity challenges to meet the increased demand for laundry services, Dunswart Laundries have been assisting Bheki Mlangeni Hospital to clean the linen with three deliveries every week, ensuring that patient care is not compromised.”
The department said, given the cold winter nights, it was a norm that some patients would prefer bringing extra blankets to hospitals when admitted.
“This does not imply that there is a shortage of linen at the hospital,” the department said.
“Any patient who claims to be sleeping on plastic mattress covers at any of our facilities is advised to lodge their complaints with the management or with the quality assurance office.
“It is shocking and uncalled for that a public representative would distort facts to mislead the public in this manner rather than using their position to positively impact on the communities they represent.”
The department said it was actively working on addressing the laundry machinery challenges across all hospitals in the province.
“An investment of R50 million was set aside to upgrade and replace critical equipment and machinery, which requires an overhaul in all hospitals,” said the department.
