Crumbling infrastructure is hampering patient care at Boitumelo Regional Hospital in Kroonstad, Free State
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GroundUp first visited the hospital two weeks ago. Buckets have been set out on the floors of some wards and theatre rooms to catch water leaking from broken ceilings. An extension of the hospital building and upgrades started in 2010. In July 2014, further renovations were done. But staff, who spoke to GroundUp on condition of anonymity, said conditions at the hospital are deteriorating, with leaking ceilings, and broken windows covered with cardboard.Last week, nurses and other staff downed tools over the poor condition of the hospital. They also demanded to be paid for overtime.
Boitumelo is the only regional hospital in the Fezile Dabi District and caters for patients from about 19 surrounding towns. The hospital has six theatres but we were told of at least 80 patients whose surgeries had to be rescheduled between October and December 2022.I’ve been going to the hospital for surgery since 2018 … They keep postponing.“I was scheduled for a gallstone removal on 19 January 2023, but I was told the theatre is not working. I was told to return in April.
But when we visited the hospital again on 6 February, ceiling panels were still broken and we were told that some of the theatres were not yet fully functional.In times of uncertainty you need journalism you can trust. For 14 free days, you can have access to a world of in-depth analyses, investigative journalism, top opinions and a range of features. Journalism strengthens democracy. Invest in the future today. Thereafter you will be billed R75 per month.
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Buckets to catch water in Free State hospital’s leaking wards | The Citizen🚑Leaking ceilings & broken windows covered with boards at the dilapidated Boitumelo Regional Hospital in the Free State have driven staff to protest while the Department of Health continues to ignore the hospital 😨 TheCitizenNews Read the full story ⬇️
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GROUNDUP: Kroonstad hospital conditions deteriorate further, staff picket despite supposed upgradesNurses downed tools last week over poor conditions at Boitumelo Regional Hospital in Kroonstad.
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