Da Calls For Gauteng Health Leadership Overhaul After Damning Report

The Democratic Alliance DA has called for a change in leadership at the Gauteng Health Department in response to a damning report by the Office of Health Standards Compliance and the Health Ombud.

The report, which investigated allegations of neglect at Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg, highlights systemic failures and poor conditions at the facility.

The investigation was launched after broadcaster Thomas Holmes, popularly known as Tom London , shared videos on social media in September last year. In the videos, Holmes detailed the appalling treatment he received from hospital staff and exposed the hospital's deteriorating infrastructure.

The report exonerated the hospital of maltreatment but found a lack of security, decaying infrastructure, staff shortages and poor governance, to name a few.

DA Shadow MEC for Health in Gauteng Jack Bloom says, I think whats very important is the recommendations theyve made because weve had other investigations that have made recommendations, and they havent been carried out. I certainly hope they use whatever enforcement measures they can to ensure that this time, the recommendations are implemented in full. But theres a broader problem: its the Gauteng Health Department. Virtually every hospital run by the Gauteng Health Department has similar problems to that at Helen Joseph Hospital, and I dont think were going to fix the particular problems at Helen Joseph Hospital and the other hospitals until we change the top leadership at the Gauteng Health Department.