- The besieged Tembisa Hospital is once again the center of attention.
- A shocking video has surfaced showing patients lying in a dirty, unkempt ward.
- The video has gone viral on social media.
A shocking video has emerged exposing the dire state of the emergency room at Tembisa Hospital.
In the video a man is heard saying: “This is not there. I am here at the Tembisa Hospital. Look how they are guarding our people. They cannot stay or sleep in that place (sic)”.
Patients can be seen in beds, without sheets, while another frail-looking patient, scantily clad, sleeps on the floor, with only a small blanket.
Nearby, another patient was being fed by a man who the author claimed was a relative of the patient.
Rubbish and grime are strewn across the floor, while broken, empty and neglected beds, chairs and wheelchairs can be seen.
The narrator continues: “There is no doctor. There is no one here. Let’s try something as a community. Councillors, mayor, MEC and Secretary of Health, let’s come see what is happening at the Tembisa Hospital.
“This is not on. This should go to the government (sic).”
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The Gauteng health department confirmed that the video was taken in its emergency room on Thursday.
“The Accident and Emergency Unit of the Hospital was full of patients when the video was taken. To relieve the pressure, the overflow area was used to decongest the victims,” said department spokesman Motaletale Modiba.
Modiba said the patients in the video were healthcare users, who were rushed back to the emergency room as soon as beds became available.
“The hospital is currently in the process of completing an admission room, which will be used to decongest the emergency room,” Modiba said.
“It should be noted that the demand for service at Tembisa Hospital far exceeds its capacity. It is the only hospital in North Ekurhuleni. The facility does not turn away any patient, even when full.”
Modiba said the department welcomed the announcement this week by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi that the provincial executive council had resolved that a replacement for Kempton Park Hospital would be built to reduce the burden on Tembisa.
MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko said that 17 psychiatric patients were admitted to the hospital.
“There was no space to accommodate them (at the time). There were no specialized doctors to care for them. After observation, we were able to enter them. While they were in the waiting room, a relative of one of the patients took them. that video. We had to come to the hospital quickly.
“We have brought in another team of doctors to monitor the patients. They will go to the psychiatric wards, where we have enough wards. We have arranged two wards for them,” he said.
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The MEC warned people not to distribute such videos.
“We do not want to do it only with the Tembisa Hospital. Please tell us when you see problems. Please do not send them to social networks. Send them to us, as authorities, to address the problem.
“…we encourage citizens to take mental health seriously,” said Nkomo-Ralehoko.
crime operation
The video came days after the Hawks swooped in, combing through offices and leaving with stacks of documents, after a series of News24 articles exposed corruption at the hospital.
Some workers welcomed the Hawks operation, hoping it would arrest those who had looted the funds.
An employee said:
I have been praying for this day to come. I have been telling my children that the day of those who are looting our workplace is coming. Everyone here knows about the corruption that is taking place. It has been going on endlessly. They believed they were above the law.
The Hawks’ spokesman, Colonel Katlego Mogale, said they were investigating irregular contracts worth R850 million.
“Gauteng Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation carried out a search and seizure operation based on information received from irregular contracts awarded by Supply Chain Management at Tembisa Hospital to 217 service providers. The search and seizure operation arose out of a investigation into allegations of fraud and corruption at the hospital.
“The investigation team will seize all relevant materials, including documents and electronic devices deemed important in the progress of the investigation,” Mogale said.
