The Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital has not been able to do a single gall bladder operation since March last year because of broken laparoscopy equipment‚ the Democratic Party said on Sunday.
DA provincial spokesman on health matters Jack Bloom said this information had been revealed by Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu in a written reply to his questions in the Gauteng Legislature.
“Fifty-one patients are currently waiting for gall bladder operations at the hospital. Normally‚ about six gall bladder operations are done every month‚ so the backlog is now more than eight months because of the broken equipment‚” Bloom said in a statement.
According to the MEC‚ new laparoscopic equipment would be delivered in six to eight weeks‚ Bloom added.
Meanwhile‚ patients were being referred to the Helen Joseph Hospital for gall bladder surgery.
“It is shameful that this major hospital has been for so long without a key piece of surgery equipment.
“It is yet another example of equipment failure at this hospital.
“Other broken machinery at the hospital this year includes the following:
- Mammography machine to detect breast cancer
- Broken lifts
- Air-conditioning failure in operating theatres
- Shortage of clean linen because broken sterilising machine
“The department should give a high priority to ensuring working equipment at this flagship hospital‚” said Bloom.
Source: RDM News Wire.
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