SANTACO strike severely impacts healthcare services in WC

The minibus taxi stayaway in the Western Cape has severely impacted the health service delivery in the metro. This is according to Dr. Saadiq Kariem, Chief of Operations

Several health services are operating at a reduced capacity on Friday.

At Tygerberg, Red Cross and Groote Schuur Hospital - elective surgery has been postponed, only emergency surgery will be conducted, and outpatients are advised to only attend their appointments if it is safe to do so.

PICTURE: Groote Schuur hospital

Emergency Medical Services will only have access to red zone areas with a law enforcement escort, resulting in possible delayed response.

Tygerberg and Salt River forensic pathology services are operational, but response to scenes will be delayed in red zones as this will also only occur under the protection of law enforcement escort.

Meanwhile, limited capacity is available at Community Health Centres and Clinics

Bonteheuwel ward councillor Angus McKenzie said staff at Vanguard Hospital in Bonteheuwel were attacked on Thursday, forcing the hospital to “shut its doors”.

“Due to harassment and attacks on Vanguard Hospital staff by violent taxi protestors, the hospital has shut its doors,” said McKenzie. 

“The staff have been traumatised and will require counselling after protestors stormed the facility after a linked individual was brought in for treatment. In consultation with hospital management, I agree with the decision taken. No staff member providing a service should be treated in such a way.”

He said patients were “treated, stabilised, and moved to other facilities”. 

The provincial health department confirmed on Friday that Vanguard CHC is operational with limited capacity.

 

“Our top priority remains the safety of our staff who, continue to bear the brunt of the violence in their commitment to providing health care to our citizens. We are deeply thankful to them for their continuous dedication. In the same breath we condemn the attacks on our staff which occurred yesterday – an Emergency Services staff member was assaulted, and the ambulance torched; several staff members were also attacked including a medical doctor.

“After doing a platform assessment of the overall impact the disruption has had on the safety of transport and our staff, many of our staff have been unable to get to their places of work, which unfortunately will result in limited services being available at health facilities in the metro.

Western Cape Health and Wellness MEC, Dr Nomafrench Mbombo, added:

"If there are no staff, there are no healthcare services. While peaceful protest is a right which needs to be protected, the safety of our staff is paramount to us as a department. I condemn any act of violence that has taken place since the beginning of the minibus taxi strike. We urge communities to ensure that our staff are allowed safe passage and protected as our healthcare services are dependent on them being at work providing quality healthcare to residents. As Minister, I am grateful to our dedicated professionals on the frontline."

“The Department’s Major Incident Response protocol was activated yesterday [Thursday] and will continue to receive updates from the Provincial Joint Operations Centre and adjust its service provision appropriately. We acknowledge that this will have an impact on our clients, but we assure them that we are doing everything we can to ensure that health services continue,” Dr Kariem added.

Done By: Mitchum George