DA concern about Philadelphia Hospital ailing healthcare services
Dennilton
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Limpopo says it has on Wednesday 9 November, written to Health MEC, Phophi Ramathuba, for an urgent meeting on the constant serious challenges facing Philadelphia Hospital in Dennilton outside Groblersdal.
According to the party, the hospital currently does not have long-acting muscle relaxant, or anaesthetic drugs used in theatre.
“The hospital does not have Ephedrine and Dopamine which is used when blood pressure is low in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). These are very important drugs which may result in the death of patients if not readily available for use,” DA Limpopo Spokesperson for Health, Risham Maharaj.
Maharaj said the department and hospital management have also failed to repair or replace important equipment’s such as the blood gas machine and the anaesthetic machine.
“The DA wrote to Ramathuba one month ago and raised challenges on the failure to maintain and repair the anaesthetic machine and the blood gas machine in the ICU and casualty ward, but there has been no effort to address this issue,” informed Maharaj.
Maharaj indicated that DA was recently informed of the appointment of a new CEO and Senior Clinical Manager, however, this seems to have had no improvements in the hospital’s longstanding challenges.
“It is clear that there is a need for urgent intervention at the hospital to address these pressing challenges before lives are needlessly lost. The DA is committed to ensuring that residents of Limpopo receive adequate healthcare services and we will continue to monitor the situation at Philadelphia Hospital,” concluded Maharaj.
Limpopo Health MEC Spokesperson, Tilivhali Muavha slammed the DA claims, saying the hospital does not have any challenge of Ephedrine.
“We do have enough stock in different wards which is even reflecting on our systems for anyone to view,” he said.
Muavha said Dopamine as well, is available enough to cover the hospital as they are also expecting another delivery from the supplier.
“Muscle relaxants are also available in the hospital and the operations are up and running,” he said.
