The recent heatwave has exacerbated an ongoing crisis at Grey’s Hospital in Pietermaritzburg, where the central air-conditioning system remained non-functional, leaving operating theatres and intensive care units massively overheated and disrupting surgical services last week.
Theatres are required to be kept at controlled temperatures because heat and humidity increase bacterial growth and the risk of surgical site infections, reports Echo Eyethu.
Patients and staff battled the extreme conditions and high humidity, with major surgery being suspended, given the heightened risks of bacterial infections.
A member of the maintenance staff said that not only is the contractor responsible for the air-conditioning system based in Durban, but apparently delayed payments to contractors are contributing to tardiness in general servicing and repairs, although he could not confirm that this was the case with the air-con repairs.
A hospital shop steward said the exact number of surgical postponements was unclear, but described scenes of distress among patients.
One woman was seen crying after being told to go home, despite having waited more than a month for a kidney procedure.
The staffer described the situation in the theatre as out of control. “The management is aware that temperatures above 22°C and humidity over 70% during surgery are a disaster waiting to happen.”
Cooler environments also help maintain sterility, prevent staff fatigue and excessive sweating, and support safe anaesthetic management.
Despite repeated engagements with hospital management, no effective corrective action has been taken, she said, exposing both patients and staff to unsafe and highly stressful conditions.
The hospital’s CEO, Brian Shezi, declined to comment, saying the hospital’s public communication was handled by the department’s head office, while the Department of Health did not respond to queries.
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union said the situation was “out of control”, while the South African Medical Association (SAMA) warned that theatre temperatures exceeding recommended levels are clinically and ethically unsafe.
SAMA spokesperson Dr Mvuyisi Mzukwa said that poor temperature control compromises patient safety, infection prevention and surgical performance.
“Extreme heat increases physiological stress and complicates anaesthetic management for patients, while for healthcare workers it causes fatigue, dehydration and reduced concentration, increasing the risk of errors.”
SAMA has called for immediate and co-ordinated action by hospital management and the provincial department: urgent repair or replacement of air-conditioning and ventilation systems in theatres and ICUs; interim safety measures to protect patients and staff while permanent solutions are implemented; transparent communication with clinicians regarding risk mitigation and service continuity; and long-term infrastructure investment and preventative maintenance plans, among others.
Eyethu News article – Grey’s Hospital’s battle with overheated theatres continues (Open access)
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