REFILWE MEKOA

Clerks that work for the Free State Department of Justice at National Hospital refused to work on Friday because of the filthy conditions surrounding their occupational space.

According to a Bloemfontein resident Nandipha Stuurman, she and other patients were sent back unattended on Friday.

“We waited for a long time, the clerks said they were not working because of the dirtiness and they cannot even use the toilet. We stayed for a long time and we were told to return on Monday. The toilets were dirty, the cleaners didn’t clean, and there were papers all over. The corridors and waiting room were dirty, which made other people leave the hospital,” she said.

It is alleged that hospital cleaners don’t work on a daily basis and some employees told Courant that it remains a continuous problem.

Meanwhile, the department of health said cleanliness is their main priority. Spokesperson Mondli Mvambi said they always ensure that cross pollution of germs within various medical facilities doesn’t occur. Mvambi was disputing allegations made by Bloemfontein residents that the National Hospital is dirty to a point that patients can get sick from its germs.

“We adhere to the national core standards of which cleanliness of medical facilities is a core element. If I make a comparison between private health care and the public sector, which we are often compared to, nurses at the private health care facilities yearn to receive patients because they don’t have as many patients cannot afford medical aid,” he said.

Mvambi emphasised that they can’t be subjected to a single incident and people immediately made their own conclusion.

“Most hospitals are found to be relatively clean than they would be. We are not happy with the standards yet. That is what we are working towards. We will make sure that from time to time we hold those who are supposed to clean the hospitals accountable,” added Mvambi.