The Democratic Alliance (DA) notes the current inspections by the Office of Health Standards Compliance (OHSC) at Pietermaritzburg’s Northdale Hospital. This is welcome news.
When KwaZulu-Natal’s (KZN) Health portfolio committee inspected the facility last year, we found infrastructure and facilities in a deplorable state. These challenges, compounded by shortages of critical surgical supplies and other essentials, painted a grim picture.
Hospital management must, however, be given credit for continuing to do their best under extremely difficult conditions in what can only be described as a despicable working environment.
According to the OHSC’s mandate – and in their own words – they are tasked with:
- Monitoring and enforcing health establishment compliance with national norms and standards and;
- Ensuring that non-compliance complaints are investigated and resolved in a fair, efficient and timely manner.
The DA – and no doubt KZN’s Health portfolio committee – look forward to the OHSC’s independent findings. These will be vital in addressing dilapidated infrastructure, the numerous and persistent public complaints and other areas requiring urgent intervention.
In the immediate term, Northdale requires urgent repairs, an adequate stock of critical items and smoother referral pathways to Grey’s Hospital.
In the longer term, the hospital requires additional staff and an extension of facilities, as it can no longer meet community needs in terms of bed space.
The DA remains a committed partner within KZN’s Government of Provincial Unity (GPU). We will continue to contribute to better healthcare services in a manner that will ensure a capable, ethical and caring Department of Health. | Dr Imran Keeka, MPL, DA KZN Spokesperson on Health