Hospital laundry backlog: Interim and long-term fixes being implemented, department says
The Gauteng health department says it is assessing its laundry equipment, to determine which machines need to be replaced and repaired, to ensure the supply of clean linen at hospitals.
This as it acknowledged a 'frequent breakdown of laundry machinery'.
This week, patients were given plastic sheeting to lie on and have had to bring their own blankets to the Bheki Mlangeni Hospital in Soweto, according to provincial legislature member Jack Bloom. Six months ago, large piles of laundry were seen at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital.
On Wednesday, the department said there was 'a backlog due to machinery breakdown challenges' at the Bheki Mlangeni hospital, which relies on laundry services from Bara.
The provincial Dunswart Laundries in Boksburg was roped in to deal with the backlog.
'Additionally, the hospital management is exploring options to temporarily outsource laundry services to further address this issue,' the department said.
MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko said the province has received R100m from the national department for the 2025/26 financial year to support its recapitalisation programme which aims to refurbish and replace outdated critical equipment and machinery in hospitals.
'Out of this amount, R50m is specifically set aside to address laundry machinery challenges across hospitals in the province.
'As part of this initiative, an assessment of the equipment and machinery has been conducted to determine which machines require refurbishing and which ones need to be replaced. This evaluation will ensure that we address the needs of facilities more effectively.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
19 hours ago
- The Citizen
MEC Ralehoko sends off Gauteng Health staff to Comrades Marathon
GAUTENG.- Forty-five (45) #AsibeHealthyGP ambassadors are set to take health and wellness to the fore by participating in the Comrades Marathon taking place on Sunday, June 8. The race covers 88km starting in Pietermaritzburg and finishing in Durban. The Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko yesterday, (Thursday, June 5) bid farewell to the Gauteng Department of Health's (GDoH) Athletics Team that will be participating in 'the Ultimate Human Race' and carrying the aspirations of over 82 000 colleagues who wish them nothing but the best in their running. 'Your commitment to health and wellness is truly inspiring. By participating in this marathon, you showcase the values we uphold in our department and the broader community. Remember, every step you take is proof to your hard work and determination. Whether you cross the finish line first or last, your participation alone is a victory worth celebrating. Your courage and dedication serve as a beacon of inspiration for us all,' the MEC said. This year's race is under the theme 'More Than A Race – Isiko Mpilo'. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
2 days ago
- IOL News
Final touches: RK Khan Hospital renovations nearing completion
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane, acting department Head Penny Msimango, the health infrastructure unit, and the contractor recently conducted a Siyahlola oversight visit at RK Khan Hospital. Image: KZN Department of Health Renovations at RK Khan Hospital in Chatsworth are 99% completed. This was revealed during a recent oversight visit to the facility by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health. Modernisation efforts will align the 56-year-old hospital with current medical infrastructure requirements. KZN Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane, acting department Head Penny Msimango, the health infrastructure unit, and the contractor conducted a Siyahlola oversight visit at the hospital. According to the department, the hospital is undergoing a R59 million re-waterproofing and internal renovations at Blocks D and E, and the Central Sterile Services Department (CSSD). The state-of-the-art renovations aimed at modernising the facility and integrating new medical technology and infrastructure include not only the waterproofing of roof slabs, but also the complete redesign of wards D and E following Infrastructure Unit Support System (IUSS) guidelines. The project also involves the removal of existing fittings, fixtures, and outdated electrical, mechanical, and extraction systems, and raising all internal partitions in the bed wards to a height of 2.1 metres. The redesigned CSSD will now fully follow IUSS accommodation design standards. Simelane expressed satisfaction with the progress, although there were concerns about delays and the missed completion deadline. The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane (green and white outfit), acting department Head Penny Msimango, the health infrastructure unit, and the contractor recently conducted a Siyahlola oversight visit at RK Khan Hospital. Image: KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health Meanwhile, last month, KZN Public Works and Infrastructure MEC Martin Meyer inspected the hospital. During a briefing session, it emerged that what seemed like a roof repair undertaking that was meant to last five months ended up being an extended project as assessments showed that the walls and other structural aspects were severely compromised.
IOL News
3 days ago
- IOL News
State must pay R26. 6m to motorist left a paraplegic after accident caused by pothole
A North West Province woman who is left a paraplegic after her car hit a pothole and overturned, is set to receive R26.6m in damages from the province's roads department. Image: File A pothole in the North West Province will cost the MEC of the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport more than R26.6 million after a motorist was involved in an accident when she drove through the pothole, which left her a paraplegic. The North West High Court, sitting in Mahikeng, ordered the department about three months ago to pay this amount to the plaintiff, only identified as Beauty. However, the department has to date not yet paid up. Her attorney, Righardt Bezuidenhout, said the department promised that it would pay by Wednesday. However, by the time of publication, she has not yet been paid. When the department failed to pay her prior to now. Bezuidenhout had obtained an order to attach the assets of the provincial department, to sell at auction in a bid to receive payment. The department, in the meantime, promised to make the payment in a bid to avoid its assets being sold at public auction. Bezuidenhout earlier managed to secure an order against the provincial department after proving that the pothole was the cause of the accident, in which Beauty was left a paraplegic. She lost control of her car in 2014 when she hit the massive pothole on a public road, and her vehicle overturned. The provincial department was held responsible as it was proved to have been negligent for not fixing the pothole earlier. The court was told that the pothole had been there for some time and that it was fixed a few days after the accident. The provincial department was held 100% liable for the damages she could prove she had suffered as a result of the accident. Beauty was a highly functional nurse prior to the accident, but she is now left helpless and needs around-the-clock assistance. During the second leg of the court case earlier this year, a host of experts were called in a bid to determine how much compensation Beauty should receive. The damages claimed by her were for past medical expenses, future medical expenses, loss of earnings, and general damages. In determining her damages, Deputy Judge President Tebogo Djaje considered the fact that Beauty was employed as a professional nurse at the time of the accident. She had been in service for approximately 25 years. Since the accident, she has not been employed and was medically boarded in 2016. She will not be able to return to work as she presents with a physical impairment of 77%, according to the orthopaedic surgeon. Apart from being wheelchair-bound, she uses an indwelling catheter as well as nappies and is completely dependent on her daughter for assistance. The only physical activity that she can do is gardening to a limited degree. According to the experts, the plaintiff will require extensive future treatment. Apart from spinal injuries, she also suffered a hip fracture, as well as shoulder and rib fractures. Her injuries further left her with several scars, and she lost four of her front teeth.
