As winter sets in and temperatures continue to drop across Gauteng, patients at several public hospitals have raised concerns about freezing wards and a lack of hot water. 

According to the Gauteng Department of Health, this is due to the ageing infrastructure in its health facilities.

Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko says in a statement contractors are on standby to respond to emergencies.

“In May, several facilities experienced the visible effects of ageing infrastructure, when breakdowns in the boiler systems resulted in inconsistent hot water supply. The reality we are facing is that critical equipment such as boilers, chillers, heat pumps, and air conditioners are outdated and have not been appropriately serviced for a long time,” she says.

Facilities affected

DA Gauteng Health spokesperson Jack Bloom says he has received complaints from ten hospitals about the cold conditions. These include Bertha Gxowa Hospital, Edenvale Hospital, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital, Yusuf Dadoo Hospital, Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria West Hospital, Kalafong Hospital, Helen Joseph Hospital, and Far East Rand Hospital.

According to Bloom, some hospital management stated that there was no budget to repair the heating systems, leaving certain wards and, at times, entire hospitals without heating.

The cold wards are not the only concern. 

In a written reply to the Gauteng Legislature, MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko revealed that from 1 May, nine hospitals have been without hot water. These include Bertha Gxowa Hospital, Cullinan Care and Rehabilitation Centre, Sterkfontein Hospital, Edenvale Hospital, Lenasia South Hospital, Kalafong Hospital, Weskoppies Hospital, Jubilee Hospital, and Tshwane Rehabilitation Centre.

“This is a disgrace. It is inhumane to treat sick and vulnerable people so poorly,” says Bloom.

Repairs underway

Nkomo-Ralehoko says progress is being made in restoring hot water and heating systems across affected facilities.

“At Bertha Gxowa Hospital, the faulty hot water compressors have been repaired and serviced. Pretoria West Hospital and Sterkfontein Hospital experienced leaking steam pipes and required the replacement of calorifiers (devices used to heat water), which has now been completed. Edenvale Hospital also had challenges with its boiler system, but the necessary repairs have been carried out,” she says.

“At Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital, the contractor successfully repaired the calorifiers. Similar issues at Kalafong Hospital have also been addressed. Contractors are currently on-site at Tambo Memorial Hospital, Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Helen Joseph Hospital, and Dr Yusuf Dadoo Hospital, conducting repairs on problematic calorifiers. At Far East Rand Hospital, a contractor has been dispatched to replace ageing calorifiers, with work expected to be completed this weekend,” Nkomo-Ralehoko says.

Increased strain during winter

Nkomo-Ralehoko says the increased strain on hospital infrastructure during winter contributes to more frequent equipment failures.

“During this time, the department experiences a large number of breakdowns due to heavy usage. However, contractors are on standby to respond as issues arise,” she says.

She adds that R100 million has been allocated to recapitalise critical equipment across Gauteng’s healthcare facilities.

“Over time, this recapitalisation programme will help reduce breakdowns, as ageing equipment is gradually replaced,” she says. – Health-e News