Krugersdorp – Gauteng Health MEC Hope Papo has pledged to give more support to Leratong Hospital so it can provide better services to the people living in the West Rand.
Papo made the commitment on Tuesday during his visit to West Rand health facilities, including Leratong, Odireleng Maponya and Fanyana Nhlapo clinics.
The visit is part of the department’s plan to inspect the state of equipment, infrastructure, staffing levels, drug supplies and patient loads at hospitals.
Papo said as a regional hospital, Leratong needed more support so it can operate optimally.
He noted that due to a lack of adequate support, there were certain things which the hospital should be doing better but is unable to.
“The budget of the hospital will be improved to assist with responding to backlogs that currently exist. Whatever work the central office has to give to the hospital must be linked to the six core standards of health,” said Papo, noting that the availability of medication was not a problem in the hospital.
Leratong is the only regional hospital in the West Rand and serves as a referral point for 79 facilities, including two district hospitals, two maternal and obstetrics units, 61 clinics, 10 mobile clinics and a psychiatric hospital.
The number of patients at the hospital in the past financial year reached 50 663, while the number of patients who were attended to as outpatients exceeded 261 000.
The hospital has prioritized the renovation of wards to respond to the increasing load of patients requiring health care.
The labour, medical, gynaecological and surgical wards will be upgraded in the 2013/14 financial year. Last year, the hospital’s casualty and reception areas were refurbished at a cost of R6 million.
The neonatal unit was also improved and equipped with state-of-the-art equipment.
Papo said there was a need for a better coordinated system, where patients taking medication for chronic illnesses can collect their meds at clinics, instead of having them wait in long queues at the hospital.
Having dealt with huge accruals, the department, Papo said, was now able to direct resources to health services, such as repairing equipment and increasing staff.
The department this year plans to improve services at all levels of the health care system, including clinics, community health centres and district hospitals. – SAnews.gov.za
