Patients at the Frere Hospital s maternity ward in East London in the Eastern Cape say the unavailability of beds is affecting them negatively.
Patients say they sleep on couches and benches in the wards foyer.
Some claim they were admitted to the hospital a week ago and have not received any help.
A maternity patient says, As you can see we sleep like this, every day we come here and there are some patients who have been here for a week or so with no nighty, no blankets. The only thing we get is food. There are people who come here from different towns, especially for a pregnant woman you cant sleep here while youre in pain, its really strenuous.
Eastern Cape Health MEC Ntandokazi Capa says problems at the hospitals maternity ward are caused by patients coming in without referrals.
