An investigation was initiated following a recent media report alleging a shortage of baby cribs (bassinettes) at the hospital by The Star newspaper which also published a picture of three babies that were placed in a cardboard box instead of cribs.

The minister today (Tuesday) visited the Soweto hospital where she handed over new cribs to the beleaguered institution.

Tshabalala-Msimang said she was encouraged by the response from corporate and private individuals who offered to donate 31 cribs.

The donated bassinettes were in addition to 43 bassinettes that have already been procured by Gauteng Department of Health and delivered to the hospital last week.

The minister confirmed that the process of reviewing the utilization of the more than R1,1 billion allocated to the hospital was underway.

‘€œThe aim is to ensure that budget allocation prioritizes the core-functions of this facility, namely health service delivery,’€ Tshabalala-Msimang said.

She said a multi-disciplinary team had been sent from the Gauteng health department to assist in improving management capacity at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.

‘€œThe team of experts has put together a work-plan to implement the recommendations made by the Task Team that we sent to this facility to investigate allegations reported in the media.

The team of experts will also support this hospital in implementing measures to reduce long delays in the procurement system, addressing challenges relating to maintenance and ensure compliance with infection control policy requirements,’€ she said.

Tshabalala-Msimang was adamant that the statistics that have been provided by the Clinical Heads for the Maternal and Neonatal units confirm that the hospital provided quality health services with ‘€œfairly good clinical outcomes’€.

‘€œThis further proves that there is commitment amongst health workers at the hospital to deliver quality health care. For this, I applaud and congratulate the clinical staff for upholding high standards at all times,’€ she said.

Democratic Alliance spokesperson on health in Gauteng Jack Bloom expressed disappointment that the health minister showed little understanding on her visit that far more fundamental changes are needed there.

“We got instead an astonishing display of pretended ignorance and evasion of blame.

“Why is it a “mystery” that nurses had to use a box when they were short of cribs? She threatened action against those who placed the babies in a box but the real blame lies with her own disastrous policies that have led to an inadequate budget, a huge staff shortage and a grossly outdated management structure at this hospital,” Bloom said.

He added that hospital managers had to operate within rigid boundaries that tied their hands behind their backs.

Bloom said it was unfortunate there there  was little innovative thinking in the health department “under this Minister who prefers to deny problems and to shift blame onto others.

“If the Minister wants to know who is really to blame she should just look in a mirror,” said Bloom.