{"id":265960,"date":"2025-07-11T08:26:49","date_gmt":"2025-07-11T06:26:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/bloemnuus\/?p=265960"},"modified":"2026-03-31T16:27:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T14:27:13","slug":"maternity-ward-at-hospital-in-bloemfontein-closes-due-to-extreme-cold","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/bloemnewsexpress\/maternity-ward-at-hospital-in-bloemfontein-closes-due-to-extreme-cold\/","title":{"rendered":"Maternity ward at hospital in Bloemfontein closes due to extreme cold"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BLOEMFONTEIN<\/strong> – The Department of Labour closed down the maternity ward at the National Hospital on Thursday, 10 July, because of the cold conditions and babies getting hypothermia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lynsie Pelser, spokesperson for the Public Servants Association (PSA) said the ongoing deterioration of healthcare infrastructure in the Free State has reached a critical point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We demand the immediate and decisive intervention of the National Department of Health and the National Government,” she said in a news release on Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The PSA requested again the intervention on Ward 4 at the National Hospital which is now used as the maternity ward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pelser said babies in the ward are struggling to keep warm and the Department of Labour ordered the temporary closure of the ward. Patients were transferred to Pelonomi Hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the prohibition the Department of Labour states that the health and safety of employees are at risk to exposure due to extremely low temperatures in the maternity ward 4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The hospital is still under construction after the fire on 7 July a year ago and the hospital is not fully operational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Despite the recent allocation of R14.1 billion by the Free State Department of Health to strengthen services and infrastructure, the situation on the ground tells a different story. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Multiple government mortuaries – including those in Botshabelo, Bethlehem, and Phuthaditjhaba\u2014have been forced to close due to non-compliance and unsafe conditions. The Bloemfontein mortuary remains only partially operational, severely compromising forensic pathology services and the dignity of the deceased.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pelser said the infrastructure collapse is not only a violation of basic human rights, but also a public health emergency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Communities are being denied access to essential services and healthcare workers are operating under unsafe and unsustainable conditions. The people of the Free State deserve a healthcare system that is functional, dignified, and responsive. We cannot allow systemic neglect to continue while lives hang in the balance.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cold conditions in the maternity ward of the National Hospital in Bloemfontein was so bad, that the Department of Labour ordered the closure of the ward on 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