The Gauteng health department is facing yet another challenge as the laundry facility at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital (Bara) is in need of an overhaul. This comes after the breakdown of washing machines in November at the 3200-bed hospital, which also services other healthcare facilities in the area. As a result of the breakdown, laundry services must now be outsourced.
According to spokesperson Motalatale Modiba, the laundry facilities at Bara are old and require immediate attention. Currently, three washing machines are out of service and only five dryers are operational. A service provider has been appointed to carry out repairs and restore full functionality as quickly as possible. One out of four ironers has already been successfully repaired, and the original equipment manufacturer is on site to repair the remaining two ironers.
In the interim, the hospital’s laundry is being sent to Dunswart Provincial Laundry on a daily basis. However, the cost of outsourcing this service has not been disclosed by the department. This outsourcing comes at a time when the department has failed to pay R743 million to 69 suppliers over the past year. Despite the challenges, two laundry service providers have been appointed to support the additional staff members who have been brought in to assist with the laundry service at the hospital.
The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) has raised concerns about the standard of cleanliness and patient care at Bara due to the shortage of linen caused by the breakdown of washing machines. DENOSA regional chairperson Yandisa Zungula describes the piles of laundry stacking up at the hospital as a daily norm, raising worries about the compromised standard of cleanliness and the potential damage to the linen.
The breakdown of washing machines at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital sheds light on the broader challenges of ageing equipment and deteriorating infrastructure in Gauteng’s public health facilities. This infrastructure decay not only compromises patient safety but also impacts the well-being of healthcare professionals. It is essential for the health department to address these challenges promptly to ensure the efficient operation of healthcare facilities and the delivery of quality patient care.
