The DA in the Eastern Cape has called for Livingstone Hospital to be placed under administration, while its over-worked staff fear repercussions as the provincial Health Department probes the source of a letter, ostensibly from the surgery department, warning people of a doctor shortage at the facility.
The notice told the public not to expect doctors to attend the outpatient clinics due to the shortage.
However, the department described the letter as the work of “faceless individuals” who wanted to “destabilise” the institution, saying the only person authorised to write such a letter was Acting CEO Thembisa Notshe, and that it had launched an investigation to uncover the author.
Angry doctors have described the department’s response and witch-hunt as “disappointing”.
“It is exactly this tone that makes us afraid to speak out. This is becoming an impossible place to work,” one told News24.
Numerous staff, over the past few years, have complained that a number of departments, including internal medicine, surgery, anaesthetics, the intensive care unit, casualty, and radiology, had lost at least 30% of their doctors.
“Very few of them have been replaced, and those of us who remain are trying to plug the holes left behind,” one doctor said.
Only three doctors and one specialist remain in the neurosurgery department, where patients are often not treated after hours, and with many nights and weekends left uncovered.
“Orthopaedics can no longer reliably provide after-hours cover due to staff shortages and is unable to take calls on some nights, while radiology, too, is occasionally unable to provide an after-hours service because of limited staffing.
“This has many knock-on effects – patients wait long hours in various parts of the hospital, and we do not have enough nurses in any ward or clinical area, leading to further strain on already overstretched teams.
“We noted that (nearby) Dora Nginza Hospital recently received 10 new appointments. We’ve heard rumours that Livingstone may receive only six new doctors for the entire hospital. This does not come close to replacing the critical posts needed to provide a meaningful and safe service. Some departments alone have lost more than six doctors.”
Meanwhile, the DA says the hospital must be put under administration to “halt the alarming deterioration in services and ensure patients receive the care they deserve”, said the party’s provincial health spokesperson Michele Clarke.
Department spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo said the recruitment of doctors and a permanent CEO at Livingstone was under way.
He could not say how many doctors would be appointed.
“The department is looking at enhancing output at all clinics in the (Nelson Mandela) Bay and regional healthcare levels to increase capacity so as to drastically reduce workload at Livingstone Hospital, which is meant to see referrals only,” he said.
He claimed the department has started “with the recruitment of hospital CEOs, and Livingstone Hospital is one of the targeted hospitals to employ a permanent CEO”.
Other hospitals looking for permanent CEOs are Frere Hospital in East London and Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha.
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