By Anita Dangazele
Fed-up patients awaiting C-Section deliveries at Dora Nginza Hospital in Gqeberha are demanding to be prioritised.
The patients have been waiting for their surgeries at the maternity ward, but they have not been attended to despite being scheduled for the procedures. Some patients have been waiting for more than two weeks at the hospital.
These patients say the hospital prioritises emergency cases as it has only one operating theatre.
Aluta Mpongoshe said she had been booked for 2 November, yet two weeks later she still hasn’t delivered her baby.
“I was booked for the 2nd of November, yet I am still here. I’m worried about my baby. I will be overdue soon,” says the expecting mother.
Another patient, Asanda Gayi, complained that they would sometimes be told not to eat, as they will be going into surgery, only for the surgery to be cancelled due to an emergency case.
“It’s unfair that we have to take second place. It’s not nice being in hospital for this long. We have other children to look after,” complained Gayi.
The patients said when they complained to one of the nurses, they were told to see their stay as a vacation because the situation was not going to change any time soon.
“I was shocked that a professional would say that. It is mind-boggling that they would want us to treat this as a holiday when there are people who have to sleep on chairs. We could be opening up space for them,” exclaimed Mpongoshe.
The Eastern Cape Department of Health says a task team consisting of the Nelson Mandela Bay management team, including a team at the provincial level, has been established to develop and implement a turnaround plan for Dora Nginza Hospital.
“This team has been hard at work these past three to four weeks implementing short-term actions like filling critical posts, procuring critical equipment and dealing with acute maintenance issues,” says the Department’s spokesperson, Yonela Dekeda.
Hours after Scrolla.Africa left the hospital, Mpongoshe called to say she had delivered a baby girl.
Pictured above: The Dora Nginza Hospital
Image source: Anita Dangazele
