Department shuts down parts of Beaufort hospital
A large section of Fort Beaufort Provincial Hospital has been shut down by the Eastern Cape Department of Labour which has deemed 13 wards to be a health hazard, reports GroundUp.
‘We are scared our hospital might be shut down … On 10 June the Department of Labour inspectors shut down 13 male wards in block two and deemed them a health hazard. Now the patients have been moved to block five, which was used to admit Covid patients,’ said a hospital manager.
‘Many wards, including the maternity ward, have leaking roofs because of the 13 December storm. In 2018 we were promised that our hospital would be rebuilt. According to our organogram we should have 10 groundsmen, but we only have two. Also we need 12 porters, but we only have two.’
The manager said male and female patients share the toilets, and that the place is always wet due to leaks.
Yonela Dekeda, provincial health spokesperson, said the wards, not the whole hospital, were issued with a probation notice, in terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993.
She said the department was repairing the storm damage and there was a contractor on-site replacing asbestos roofing throughout the 13 wards and fixing leaking roof sheets, damaged ceilings, and broken windows.
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
