Local News
Whistleblowing doctors give devastating accounts of FS Health─── 13:00 Fri, 27 Feb 2015
Bloemfontein - Doctors working in Free State Health have written devastating accounts of what’s happening in Free State hospitals.
In an article published by GroundUp, an account of whistleblowing doctors paint a horrifying picture of the state of FS Health.
Doctors tell of buildings that are in disrepair – with elevators breaking down, which has led to patients dying. At the Dihlabeng hospital the fire department was allegedly brought in to assist carrying patients up and down stairs.
A constant shortage of even the most basic medications and consumables are also a major headache for doctors.
The issue of non- or partial payment of salaries was also raised in the report. Free State emergency services are facing a crisis – with Health MEC Benny Malakoane admitting 70% of EMS staff is inadequately trained. In many hospitals no X-ray service is available after 8pm as these departments are capped at 10hours overtime per month.
However, brand new state of the art machines, have been delivered to every hospital. Medical students at Pelonomi hospital are allegedly often forced to buy their own consumables like syringes, needles and swabs due to lack of stock.
The standards of hospitals in the FS have dropped drastically, some to the extent that they risk losing their accreditation to employ and train interns – like the Bongani hospital in Welkom. New hospitals are being built – as the one in Trompsburg – but aren’t operational.
Premier Ace Magashule and Health MEC Malakoane were asked to respond, but have not yet been able to .
MJ Lourens/OFM News
