Dwindling staff, a lack of resources and witness accounts of patients found sleeping on mattresses without linen or pillows have been plaguing Livingstone Hospital for years.
Last week, DA Shadow MEC for Health, Jane Cowley, yet again painted a grim picture with an emphasis on staff shortages.
“The wards and corridors of the Livingstone Hospital complex in Gqeberha are hauntingly empty,” she said in a statement on Monday, June 30.
“In just two years, 74 doctors have left, including 41 medical officers, 15 registrars and 18 specialists.”
Cowley further highlighted a “chronic shortage” of anaesthesiologists, which contributed to the slashing of theatre activity by 30%, consequently extending surgical waiting lists.
In May, DA spokesperson for Health, Michele Clarke MP, called for Livingstone Hospital to be placed under administration to halt the alarming deterioration in services.
“DA-oversights to the hospital, which serves a province that’s home to more than 7 million people, revealed a facility on the brink of collapse,” Clarke said at the time.
“The conditions at Livingstone Hospital border on inhumane, with medical waste and dirty linen in corridors, unsafe infrastructure, broken equipment, lack of supplies, and staff shortages.”
While the Eastern Cape Department of Health is yet to step up with the basic needs of patients, such as providing clean linen, ordinary people, nurses, NGOs and corporates are stepping up to ensure patients reclaim their dignity with fresh linen, blankets and pillows.
Donna van der Watt, who was admitted as a patient to Livingstone Hospital earlier this year, was surprised to see the number of people without linen.
Witnessing the shortages, she came up with the Livingstone Care Project.
“When I was booked in at the hospital, I noticed that a lot of patients did not have blankets and sheets, so I started this project.”
According to Van der Watt, those patients who had no linen, blankets or pillows, ended up sleeping on a mattress only.
“It (linen) is something I always bring with me to the hospital, especially since I visit the hospital at least once a month,” she shared.
“In the past, they supplied a sheet on the bed and you supplied your own pillow and blankets but after being at the hospital on a monthly basis I’ve noticed that people were sleeping on mattresses without linen, pillows and blankets, which is dismal.”
Due to some patients having no visitors, there was no one to provide the necessities, she added.
“It is so sad, and I don’t blame the nurses or doctors because they are trying their best.”
For the past four to five months, Van der Watt has been collecting donations from the public, NGOs and corporates to ensure patients have the essentials.
“Patients and staff are very grateful that I am doing this. Last month, I did the first floor at Livingstone, and a few nurses also started donating,” she explained.
“People are donating toiletries, and I deliver everything once a month as the patient turnover is high.”
However, the project comes with its own challenges as patients leave with the newly donated linen and blankets which has started a perpetual cycle of needing to donate linen to new patients.
“Nurses have told me that patients leave with sheets and pillows and blankets which I have taken.
“I think that government should sort this (linen shortage) out, I mean even the shortage of doctors and nurses who are working overtime to compensate, is affecting everyone.”
Robyn Clarke, from Room to Breathe, a business that assists with the packing of household items for relocation or deceased estates, recently donated linen and blankets received from a deceased estate.
“I started my business two years ago and saw a need, especially with elderly clients whose children are overseas and can’t assist with a move to a frail care centre/ retirement village or packing up a house from a deceased estate,” she shared with the PE Express.
“I declutter and then donate to charities in need.”
Clarke saw Van der Watt’s call for help on social media and stepped in to assist.
“Every now and then, I get a client who gives me carte blanche as to where I wish to donate their unwanted items, so when I stumbled upon Donna’s plea for help regarding donations for the Livingstone Hospital, I knew that is where the linen, blankets and clothing would go to. They were in dire need.”
The Eastern Cape Department of Health was approached for comment, but failed to respond at the time of going to print on Monday, July 7.
