Archives

26 Gauteng hospitals suffer food shortages

Patients have suffered from food shortages at 26 out of 34 Gauteng public hospitals since the beginning of this year.

This is revealed by Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko in a written reply to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature.

The shortages were mostly due to suppliers not being paid, contracts expiring, or companies not delivering. It was so bad for two hospitals, Bronkhorstspruit and Lenasia South, they had to borrow food from other hospitals!

George Mukhari Academic Hospital lacked chicken, fish and frozen vegetables for four months, milk was unavailable from February to May, and bread was out of stock for a week in May.

The Kalafong hospital says in some instances, patients don’t get meals “which will lead to hospital-induced malnutrition in the long run.” Their food shortages include dairy products, processed and frozen vegetables, fish and chicken. They only have a daily amount of R2000 petty cash which is too little for 700 patients.

Steve Biko hospital also had to use petty cash to buy milk, and used Request For Quotation (RFQ) to get chicken after the supplier withdrew from the contract.

Helen Joseph hospital has “sporadic” shortages of frozen food and dry groceries, with the result that patients buy their own food at the cafeteria and use food delivery services. Patients also skip meals due to repetitions and lack of variety.

At the Leratong hospital, fresh milk is substituted with powdered milk and patients get dry bread for breakfast as jam or peanut butter is only available for supper.

Food shortages at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg hospital were caused by production problems at the province-run Cook Freeze factory, so patients got repetitive meals and a warm plate meal only for supper.

Other hospitals with food shortages include the following:

Chris Hani Baragwanath

Edenvale

Sebokeng

Tambo Memorial

Thelle Mogoerane

Yusuf Dadoo

Bertha Gxowa

Pretoria West

Jubilee

Bheki Mlangeni

Tshwane District

Carletonville

Tembisa

Tshwane Rehab

Cullinan Care Rehab

Sizwe Tropical Disease

Tara H Moross

Hospitals lucky enough not to have food shortages include the Far East Rand, Mamelodi, Pholosong, South Rand, Heidelberg, Kopanong and Sterkfontein hospitals. Although Weskoppies hospital said they did not have shortages, they have to do RFQs and alternative arrangements to ensure food for their patients.

The Gauteng Health Department claims their new multi-vendor approach will ensure reliable food supplies to all hospitals, but this will not help if they do not drastically improve payments within 30 days. Their non-payment problem is deep-rooted and chronic, with only 41% paid within due time according to the latest quarterly report.

Good nutrition is vital for sick patients to recover, and decent meals are also good for morale. It is shameful that hospitals still struggle with the simple matter of food provision. This will only improve with better financial management and more power given to hospital CEOs with proven competence and honesty.

By Jack Bloom MPL – DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health

RELATED POSTS
dxrhxr
IN CASE YOU'VE MISSED IT
Read More
dxrhxr
Read More
Read More
KemptonHospital-2-3-1