Question NW1022 to the Minister of Health
21 April 2022 - NW1022
Hlengwa, Ms MD to ask the Minister of Health
(1)With reference to the protest by the residents of Ulundi in the Northern KwaZulu-Natal and about 120 staff members outside the St Francis Hospital in Ulundi Hospital on Friday 12 March 2022, following concerns about the planned closure of the hospital, and in view of the fact that services have over the years been taken away from the communities of Ulundi and residents are being rerouted to Nkonjeni Hospital which is further away, what are the full details of his department’s plan for the St Francis Hospital; (2) whether his department engaged with local leaders and amakhosi regarding the imminent plans for this hospital; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. The Kwa-Zulu Natal Department of Health has not planned to close St Francis Hospital, a decision was made to merge the management of St Francis Hospital and Nkonjeni Hospital as far back as 2013.
2. St Francis Hospital has not been closed and consultation with various stakeholders was done regarding the merging of management to be stationed at Nkonjeni Hospital.
END.