celeste barker

Dear MyPE Three of the seven state mental health facilities in the Eastern Cape do not have permanent psychiatrists. The current focus on conditions at the Tower Hospital in Fort Beaufort must be expanded to the other psychiatric facilities in the province as well. Shocking revelations of the systemic failure and inadequacy at these facilities are contained in a reply to a legislature question I asked the new MEC for Health, Helen Sauls-August. The DA will not rest until we can honestly … [Read more...] about Shortage of psychiatrists shocker at Eastern Cape state mental health facilities

Dear MyPE I have submitted questions to the MEC for Health, Dr Phumza Dyantyi, regarding the maltreatment of Mr Donovan Nolan who was admitted to the Dora Nginza Hospital on 24 February 2018. On the day that he arrived at the Hospital, Mr Nolan was transferred to a steel trolley without a mattress, blanket or pillow. The sides of the trolley were broken, cardboard was used for shoulder support and old used bandages were used to reattach the dangling steel supports on the trolley. The … [Read more...] about 65 Year Old Patient Instructed to Urinate in a Blanket

Dear MyPE I have written to the Health Ombudsman and requested a full investigation into all conditions and circumstances in the Oncology Department of the PE Provincial Hospital that led to the breakdown of their last functional lift eight days ago. Under the curatorship of the ANC-led provincial government, the formerly well maintained PE Provincial Hospital fell into disrepair when the only functional lift available for Oncology patients broke down. These patients were forced to climb … [Read more...] about EC patients deserve proactive not reactive DOH management

Dear MyPE The DA is deeply disturbed and concerned about the well-choreographed show that was presented to a DA delegation that visited the Tower Psychiatric Hospital in Fort Beaufort on Monday 12 March 2018. It became clear to us that the hospital was cleaned up and prepared for the visit. We agree with the article published in Rapport on Sunday, 11 March, in which it was reported how workers were made to clean up the facility until after midnight in preparation for a visit to the … [Read more...] about Deception at Tower Hospital

Dear MyPE There are more than 7 000 vacancies in the Department of Health of which almost 3 000 of are for the much-needed nursing personnel. The DA welcomes the R300-million set aside to fill 1 800 vacancies within the department, as reported in the media last week. However, we remain concerned by the high number of vacant clinical and non-clinical posts. Staff shortages in hospitals and clinics will continue to cripple our health care system and thousands of poor patients will continue … [Read more...] about Health Department Shortages Remain Critical

Dear MyPE An urgent investigation and action must be taken by Health MEC Dr Phuza Dyantyi following an incident last night (subs: 23 Jan 2018), when staff in the Oncology Ward at the Livingstone Hospital in Port Elizabeth failed to assist a vulnerable patient who suffered a bloody fall from his hospital bed. The MEC must answer for ongoing incidents of negligence by staff at the hospital. The family of JC Botha, an oxygen-dependent cancer patient, were visiting him when he fell from his … [Read more...] about Health MEC must act against negligent Livingstone Hospital staff

Dear MyPE The DA is furious! Last night vandals again sliced the water pipes that supply the NU 11 Clinic in Motherwell. This destructive action is compounded by the fact that vandals did exactly the same in December 2016. In both cases, the delivery of healthcare has been delayed or frustrated because staff cannot wash their hands before and after attending to patients. This amounts to wanton cruelty to the elderly and to moms with babies who have risen early to queue for medical care. It … [Read more...] about Patients and staff suffer repetitive vandalising at the Motherwell NU 11 clinic

Dear MyPE With another Women's Month over, the Eastern Cape branch of the DA Women's Network (DAWN), ponders the state of women's rights in South Africa. "Break the Silence" is a global slogan that aims to encourage women to articulate their tales of gender injustice and cruelty based on sexual identity. It is for this reason and the fact that each of us has a moral obligation to assist those who suffer in silence, that DAWN raises urgent questions for clarity in the Eastern Cape … [Read more...] about Break the silence over allegations against legislature secretary Vuyani Mapolisa

Dear MyPE This morning Tuesday 29 August), the community that depends on the NU 11 Clinic in Motherwell in Nelson Mandela Bay, locked the gate because they are angry with staff shortages at the facility. Ongoing staff shortages at our clinics are unacceptable. It is delaying vital services to communities and is placing an extra burden of care on a few overworked doctors, nurses and support staff. The DA condemns the Eastern Cape Department of Health (EC DoH) for its management failure … [Read more...] about Angry community closes Motherwell Clinic due to staff shortages

Dear MyPE The financial crisis in the Eastern Cape Department of Health has a profoundly negative impact on service delivery and bursary holders who are dependent on this funding. A cohort of Bachelor of Emergency Medical Care (BEMC) students from Nelson Mandela University who signed four-year bursary contracts with the Department of Health in 2014, have been informed that they will have to seek external funding themselves if they want to complete their course and graduate at the end of … [Read more...] about Department of Health drops funding bombshell on NMU BEMC bursary students

Dear MyPE The Eastern Cape Department of Health is crippled by debt and dysfunctionality and is spiralling out of control. Tragically, the department’s failure to fill 2 000 of the 5 000 vacancies that occurred as at the end of December 2016, is negatively impacting on service delivery and it is people who rely on state healthcare, especially at clinics, who are suffering. The DA believes that the failure to fill vacancies is an attempt by the department to offset its current … [Read more...] about Crippled Health Department must improve communication and be honest with the public

Dear MyPE The Department of Health has yet to fill 2 000 of the 5 000 vacancies that occurred as at the end of December 2016. This is clearly an attempt by the department to offset its current financial crisis whereby the accruals have to be funded. The failure to yet employ 2 000 health workers will place a heavy burden on the already overworked staff, compromise service delivery, increase medico-legal claims and other lawsuits. When I raised this issue in the legislature during the … [Read more...] about Out-of-cash EC Health Department means 2 000 fewer employees

Dear MyPE Yesterday, I was furious to learn that a group of 11 Pharmacy interns have been informed that intern positions are "oversubscribed". These interns followed the Eastern Cape Department of Health’s (DOH) regulations and submitted paperwork timeously. They received electronic confirmations of placement as well. So I ask with tears in my eyes, what happened? What gives the East Cape DOH the right to mess interns around like this at the last minute? Will the Department of … [Read more...] about Health MEC must account for overplaced Pharmacy interns