Patients suffer as new CT scanner gathers dust
Patients suffering from many different ailments and diseases across northern KZN are affected by the broken CT scanner at Ngwelezana Hospital
SERVICES at Ngwelezana Hospital have come under scrutiny as patients are denied the medical treatment required, owing to non-functioning equipment.
Anton van Staaden suffered a major stroke at his home in Golela more than a week ago and was immediately rushed to Ngwelezana Hospital.
He has not yet received the brain scan required to determine the extent of the damage, as the hospital’s CT scanner is broken.
This, after the scan he should have received one month prior to the stroke was also not carried out, owing to the broken scanner.
‘The CT scanner at Ngwelezana Hospital has been broken on and off for a long time,’ said Dr Imran Keeka MPL, DA KZN spokesperson on Health.
‘Earlier this year, the KZN Department of Health (DoH) announced that a new CT scanner would be installed at the hospital, owing to the ongoing malfunctioning of the existing machine for several years.’
However, the new scanner is yet to be installed and is instead gathering dust.
ALSO READ: Broken CT scanner at Ngwelezana endangers patients’ lives
No reasons
The reasons for this have not been made clear but one thing that is clear, is the waiting list for patients requiring CT scans extends to December.
‘In the interim, the hospital is sending patients requiring CT scans to either Stanger Hospital or Durban’s Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital (IALH).
‘Particularly worrying is that Stanger Hospital accepts only two patients from Ngwelazana per day, while IALH accepts only emergency scans, apparently very reluctantly.
‘This includes patients with major trauma and head injuries.’
The number of patients missing out on this critical service must extend into the thousands, considering the many government hospitals throughout northern KZN having to transfer their patients to Stanger, and the variety of ailments requiring CT scans to aid diagnosis.
Keeka said he regards it as ‘incomprehensible’ that, while the CT scanner assigned to Ngwelezana is available, it has not been installed.
‘Meanwhile, patients are suffering.’
The DoH Health Technology Services have estimated January as the new machine’s installation date, but only if no problems are encountered before then.
Keeka has written to KZN Health MEC, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, demanding he attend to this crisis, which he says is well-known to the department.
He has also written to KZN Premier Willies Mchunu, urging him to ensure the installation process of the CT scanner at Ngwelezana is expedited.
Both King Cetshwayo District Health Spokesperson, Sibongiseni Manqele and Ngwelezana CEO, Dr Bright Madlala, were reluctant to comment on the issue.
Provincial Health Spokesperson, Agiza Hlongwane, was contacted but no statement was forthcoming.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.
For news straight to your phone invite us:
WhatsApp – 072 069 4169
Instagram – zululand_observer
