Da Calls For Leadership Change At Gauteng Health

The Democratic Alliance DA has called for a change in leadership at the Gauteng Health Department after the Office of Health Standards Compliance and the Health Ombud released a report into claims of neglect at Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg .

The investigation was initiated after broadcaster Tom London shared videos on social media in September last year complaining about the bad treatment he received from hospital staff and the dilapidated state of the hospital.

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

"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 and 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," says DA Shadow MEC for Health in Gauteng, Jack Bloom.