DA to lodge SA Institute of Health Care Managers complaint against Kuruman Hospital CEO

14 December 2014

The DA will today lodge a complaint against the Kuruman Hospital CEO, Ms Agnes Sesing, to the South African Institute of Health Care Managers, for gross negligence and mismanagement of her hospital. 

This comes after the DA visited the hospital on Friday, following various reports on blood spillage from the hospitals' mortuary. Subsequently, we laid charges against the MEC for Health in the Northern Cape, Mac Jack, who should ultimately be held accountable for the state of this public hospital.

The general condition of the hospital is appalling. Hospital management had to dispose of medical waste and equipment on the precinct. There is a clear lack of funding from the Northern Cape Health Department, as the neglect is endemic. 

The sight of patients on stretchers stationed outside the hospital among dumped hospital beds and other medical waste is shocking and extremely disturbing.

These are clearly inhumane and undignified circumstances. The hospital has an unused wing, broken fences and the hospital is completely unhygienic.  

Section 27 of the Constitution states that every South African has the right to access health care. How are the residents of Kuruman expected to be satisfied with this hospital in such a desolate state. 3 years have passed without any Provincial government support.

Mr Jack, has not once communicated to the residents, patients and medical staff, what he intends to do to fix the condition of the hospital and ensure the hospital meets its Constitutional obligations.

Statement issued by Dr Wilmot James MP, DA Shadow Minister of Health, December 14 2014

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter