The DA’s shadow minister of health Wilmot James yesterday laid charges against Eastern Cape health MEC Dr Pumza Dyantyi for allegedly contravening the Occupational Health and Safety Act because of hazardous conditions at three Nelson Mandela Bay hospitals.This follows an oversight visit by James at Livingstone, Provincial and Uitenhage Provincial hospitals.
James, who laid charges at the Humewood Police Station, said the safety of workers, patients and the public were being placed in jeopardy by the lack of properly equipped facilities for the storage and handling of medical waste at the three facilities.
Department of health spokesman, Siyanda Manana, said they were baffled by the charges as they have not received any complaints from workers, health and safety representatives or the unions about this issue.
“There is no way that the hospital can expose its workforce to these risks – that would be unconstitutional,” Manana said.
James said he noted the problems during an oversight visit to the three hospitals, accompanied by the shadow MEC for health in the province, Celeste Barker, and Franay van der Linde, a DA member of the public health committee in the metro.
During a similar visit to Dora Nginza Hospital the team could find no serious problems or shortcomings.
The problems he noted and which formed the basis of the criminal complaint are:
l None of the hospitals had a central storage area with a concrete floor connected to a proper drainage system that flowed into a sewer;
l None of the medical waste storage facilities have a water supply for cleaning and disinfecting purposes or a hand basin with soap and a towel;
l Workers were not provided with proper and adequate personal protective equipment like gum boots, uniform, elbow length gloves, masks and eye goggles;
l None of the facilities had a spill kit to deal with accidents and only Provincial Hospital had a fire extinguisher;
l Uitenhage Provincial Hospital’s facility was not locked and the medical waste was also not protected against rain; and
l There were no windows in the facility at Port Elizabeth’s Provincial Hospital and on inspection, a red bag containing possible infectious waste was found in an unsecured area.
James said he believed the root of the hospitals’ battle to deal with medical waste was that they were not given an adequate budget to do so.
“I have already written to Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi to request a meeting with him to discuss the failure by hospitals to properly manage their medical waste in terms of the National Health Act and to ask him to explain how he will make hospitals nationwide compliant with the law,” James said.
Manana said they will study the issues raised by James to see where they can improve.
“There might be some small things that we need to comply with. We will address that,” he said.
DA leader lays charges against EC health MEC
This follows an oversight visit by James at Livingstone, Provincial and Uitenhage Provincial hospitals.
James, who laid charges at the Humewood Police Station, said the safety of workers, patients and the public were being placed in jeopardy by the lack of properly equipped facilities for the storage and handling of medical waste at the three facilities.
Department of health spokesman, Siyanda Manana, said they were baffled by the charges as they have not received any complaints from workers, health and safety representatives or the unions about this issue.
“There is no way that the hospital can expose its workforce to these risks – that would be unconstitutional,” Manana said.
James said he noted the problems during an oversight visit to the three hospitals, accompanied by the shadow MEC for health in the province, Celeste Barker, and Franay van der Linde, a DA member of the public health committee in the metro.
During a similar visit to Dora Nginza Hospital the team could find no serious problems or shortcomings.
The problems he noted and which formed the basis of the criminal complaint are:
l None of the hospitals had a central storage area with a concrete floor connected to a proper drainage system that flowed into a sewer;
l None of the medical waste storage facilities have a water supply for cleaning and disinfecting purposes or a hand basin with soap and a towel;
l Workers were not provided with proper and adequate personal protective equipment like gum boots, uniform, elbow length gloves, masks and eye goggles;
l None of the facilities had a spill kit to deal with accidents and only Provincial Hospital had a fire extinguisher;
l Uitenhage Provincial Hospital’s facility was not locked and the medical waste was also not protected against rain; and
l There were no windows in the facility at Port Elizabeth’s Provincial Hospital and on inspection, a red bag containing possible infectious waste was found in an unsecured area.
James said he believed the root of the hospitals’ battle to deal with medical waste was that they were not given an adequate budget to do so.
“I have already written to Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi to request a meeting with him to discuss the failure by hospitals to properly manage their medical waste in terms of the National Health Act and to ask him to explain how he will make hospitals nationwide compliant with the law,” James said.
Manana said they will study the issues raised by James to see where they can improve.
“There might be some small things that we need to comply with. We will address that,” he said.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos