The lack of connectivity at Dr Harry Surtie Hospital in Upington, due to its unpaid telephone account, has raised alarm bells regarding the financial state of the Northern Cape Health Department. The Democratic Alliance (DA) is appealing to the Health MEC, Maruping Lekwene, to speedily investigate the matter to prevent a similar situation from recurring in the future.
Telephones at the facility were out of working order from mid-April until Wednesday this week. Members of the public had no telephone access to the facility to enquire about their loved ones, who were admitted to hospital. Due to visitations being stopped due to Covid-19, family members could also not physically check in with their relatives. This created much anxiety and trauma for patients and family members alike, even more so considering the pandemic and the growing number of cases in the Northern Cape.
The non-operational telephones also hampered the provision of basic services, including ordering and administrative duties, for over three weeks.
The situation has been intolerable, even more so given that no back up plan was put in place to ensure that the facility maintained contact with the outside world.
While the Health Department has a history of accruals and failing to pay suppliers and service providers on time, it is unacceptable and inexcusable for such a big health facility to have such a critical service cut due to non-payment.
The DA will report the matter to MEC Maruping Lekwene and request that he takes the issue up with hospital management. While this should never happen again, contingency plans must also be urgently developed to ensure that, should telephonic access be interrupted again for whatever reason, there are alternative means through which the hospital can be contacted.
The DA is concerned about the ongoing regression taking place at Dr Harry Surtie hospital, that has remained understaffed and under-resourced since its opening. Now, more than ever before we need our regional health facilities in optimal working order, if we are to humanely and effectively fight the Coronavirus.