Health Ombud fingers ‘absent’ CEO at overcrowded Rahima Moosa
Health Ombudsman Professor Malegapuru Makgoba on Tuesday released the findings of a report into maladministration at the Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital in Coronationville.
The investigation was undertaken following a complaint lodged in April 2022.
Makgoba, Health Minister Joe Phaahla and Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko briefed the media on the investigation’s findings on Tuesday.
The report found that 40% of the hospital's patients are foreign nationals which had resulted in overcrowding at the health facility.
The report further revealed that the former hospital CEO Dr. Nozuko Mkabayi only spent 182 days at the hospital since her appointment in January 2022.
This was due to the Gauteng Department of Health’s failure to promote and implement relevant HR policies in a standardised and transparent manner.
“The latest information about how many days the CEO has been at work since she was appointed was raised by Jack Bloom in July 2022, it was indicated that Dr. Mkabayi had spent 346 days at RMMCH since she was appointed.’ However, the investigation found that 71 days were unaccounted for,” said Makgoba.
The ombudsman also revealed that expecting mothers at the hospital slept on the floors due to overcrowding.
“Based on the evidence gathered, pregnant women sitting on chairs and sleeping on the floor were not attended to in a manner that was consistent with the ‘nature and severity of their health condition. Expectant mothers sitting on the chairs and sleeping on the floor at RMMCH was purportedly due to shortage of space and overcrowding,” said Makgoba.
“Following the allegations that the health and dignity of patients and the well-being of healthcare workers was severely compromised was substantiated and confirmed, revealing the crumbling infrastructure throughout the hospital, free flowing sewage between buildings, a pervasive foul-smelling environment, filthy ablution facilities, and leaking steam pipes leading to poor heating in the wards, which does not provide a conducive, healthy, and safe environment for the provision of quality care for patients by healthcare workers.”
Nokomo-Ralehoko vowed to act on the recommendations.
“The department will study the report with the view of consolidating an implementation plan to address the issues raised in the report in the immediate and long term period. The Department has already started actioning some of the issues recommended by the OHO which includes transferring the CEO of RMMCH out of the hospital, amongst others.”
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