Ward where babies died is still overcrowded
30 July 2010, 08:02
Overcrowding is still an issue at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital's neonatal unit, where six infants died 10 weeks ago.
And despite Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu's promise to solve the problems at the unit's premature ward, nothing has been done about overcrowding.
A week ago, Mahlangu released a report on the cause of death of the six babies, highlighting overcrowding as a contributing factor and promising several changes.
But this week there were at least 39 babies in the premature ward, which caters for a maximum of 35 newborns.
Sources at the hospital say that while "four more" babies in the ward was not necessarily a problem, there could easily be 15 more babies in the ward.
A second premature ward is nearly completed, but according to the source, medical and nursing staff have not yet been appointed to staff it.
"It's one thing to have the unit, but you need staff to man the unit. When will that happen?" said the source.
Hospital CEO Barney Selebano said the new unit, with 20 beds, was likely to open in September.
"We are working on it. The unit is finished.
"We are working on ensuring the staff are up to scratch. It's not like opening a house. You have the difficulty of getting the right staff to do a proper job," said Selebano.
In mid-May, six babies died in the hospital's premature ward when a norovirus infection outbreak struck.
Initially, it was reported that the infants had contracted diarrhoea. But later it was revealed that the babies' deaths were linked to a highly virulent outbreak of gastroenteritis.
In Mahlangu's report, overcrowding was fingered as one of the factors contributing to the babies' deaths.
Among the promises the MEC made in order to tackle the problems that caused the deaths were stricter infection control at the access points to the ward, more roller towels and disinfectant handwashes, changing the position of the wash basin, and bringing in 30 retired nurses to strengthen infection-control measures.
On Wednesday, when The Star visited the premature ward, there were many changes in place.
Security and hygiene codes have been introduced at the neonatal ward, and access was restricted, with guards stationed on each of the section's three floors to deal with visitors.
A locker stood outside the premature ward, where parents could leave their belongings while attending to their newborns.
On the locker were several posters highlighting the washing procedures for both nurses and parents.
Parents were not allowed into the ward with long-sleeved clothing or packets. Other relatives who wished to see the babies were not allowed in.
Medical waste was placed in cardboard-box bins, which were later taped shut and marked for collection.
Cleaners, who moved in and out of the ward, wore plastic gloves all the time.
Two mothers, who were at the ward on Wednesday and asked not to be named, said they did not have any issues with the standard of care at the hospital.
"The basin is right at the door. You have to wash your hands up to your elbows before you can go to your baby's pod. There is soap and hand towel. And when you leave you have to throw away your apron and hat. Every time I have come in I have been given a new set."
The other mother was concerned that there was one nurse looking after five babies at the same time.
She was also concerned that by 10am on Thursday, her baby had not been washed.
But when she went in at visiting hours around 3pm, she found the baby had been washed.
And despite Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu's promise to solve the problems at the unit's premature ward, nothing has been done about overcrowding.
A week ago, Mahlangu released a report on the cause of death of the six babies, highlighting overcrowding as a contributing factor and promising several changes.
But this week there were at least 39 babies in the premature ward, which caters for a maximum of 35 newborns.
Sources at the hospital say that while "four more" babies in the ward was not necessarily a problem, there could easily be 15 more babies in the ward.
A second premature ward is nearly completed, but according to the source, medical and nursing staff have not yet been appointed to staff it.
"It's one thing to have the unit, but you need staff to man the unit. When will that happen?" said the source.
Hospital CEO Barney Selebano said the new unit, with 20 beds, was likely to open in September.
"We are working on it. The unit is finished.
"We are working on ensuring the staff are up to scratch. It's not like opening a house. You have the difficulty of getting the right staff to do a proper job," said Selebano.
In mid-May, six babies died in the hospital's premature ward when a norovirus infection outbreak struck.
Initially, it was reported that the infants had contracted diarrhoea. But later it was revealed that the babies' deaths were linked to a highly virulent outbreak of gastroenteritis.
In Mahlangu's report, overcrowding was fingered as one of the factors contributing to the babies' deaths.
Among the promises the MEC made in order to tackle the problems that caused the deaths were stricter infection control at the access points to the ward, more roller towels and disinfectant handwashes, changing the position of the wash basin, and bringing in 30 retired nurses to strengthen infection-control measures.
On Wednesday, when The Star visited the premature ward, there were many changes in place.
Security and hygiene codes have been introduced at the neonatal ward, and access was restricted, with guards stationed on each of the section's three floors to deal with visitors.
A locker stood outside the premature ward, where parents could leave their belongings while attending to their newborns.
On the locker were several posters highlighting the washing procedures for both nurses and parents.
Parents were not allowed into the ward with long-sleeved clothing or packets. Other relatives who wished to see the babies were not allowed in.
Medical waste was placed in cardboard-box bins, which were later taped shut and marked for collection.
Cleaners, who moved in and out of the ward, wore plastic gloves all the time.
Two mothers, who were at the ward on Wednesday and asked not to be named, said they did not have any issues with the standard of care at the hospital.
"The basin is right at the door. You have to wash your hands up to your elbows before you can go to your baby's pod. There is soap and hand towel. And when you leave you have to throw away your apron and hat. Every time I have come in I have been given a new set."
The other mother was concerned that there was one nurse looking after five babies at the same time.
She was also concerned that by 10am on Thursday, her baby had not been washed.
But when she went in at visiting hours around 3pm, she found the baby had been washed.
- This article was originally published on page 5 of The Star on July 30, 2010
Cape Town
