Tembisa hospital fire: Patients aren't being turned away
The Gauteng Department of Health has addressed growing concerns and misinformation circulating in the community regarding operations at Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital following a second fire this morning.
Kempton Express reports that Motalatale Modiba, head of communications for the department, expressed concern about false reports suggesting that patients were being turned away and that taxis were blocking access to the hospital.
'We are worried about people who are spreading fake news that patients are being turned away from the hospital and taxis have blocked the road,' says Modiba.
'As anyone can see, the hospital is not operating on a normal scale, and we have advised patients to seek help at other local hospitals. Should there be an emergency, that patient will be assisted here.'
Modiba stressed that no one is being denied medical care and that operations, although disrupted, continue in a limited capacity.
'Taxis are not blocking the road. They are here working normally as they do every day,' he adds.
'Gate 4 remains operational and is being used to receive those who are here to check on their loved ones or who arrive in emergency situations.'
This follows a second fire, which broke out in the hospital's outpatient department, adjacent to the accident and emergency unit damaged by a fire on Saturday.
Emergency services were quick to respond and managed to prevent the blaze from spreading.
While routine operations remain affected, visiting hours continue, and designated entry points remain open to ensure that critical services can still be rendered.
Residents are urged to rely on official updates from the Department of Health to avoid panic and the spread of misinformation.
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