Generators fail at JHB hospital

11 January 2016

Generators at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital failed to operate this morning after the hospital was hit by a power cut in the area.

At about 10 am this morning the generators did initially kick in, but then they failed across the entire hospital for about two hours.

Doctors had to complete surgery using the light from their cellphones and manual systems had to be used to assist a number of ICU patients.

Lifts were stuck, making it impossible to move patients to and from certain areas.

Partial generator power was established later in the morning.

We need to know why the generators failed despite all the assurances by Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu that this would never happen again at any Gauteng hospital.

It is inexcusable that generators have failed yet again at a major hospital, endangering the lives of patients.

There must be accountability for this failure and effective steps to ensure that all generators work when required.

Issued by Jack Bloom, DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC, 11 January 2016