Question NW1809 to the Minister of Health

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03 June 2022 - NW1809

Profile picture: Thembekwayo, Dr S

Thembekwayo, Dr S to ask the Minister of Health

Following the fatal shooting tragedy that claimed two lives inside the New Somerset Hospital, what is his contingency plan to address the issues of security in hospitals and clinics in the Republic to curb a recurrence of such incidents in the near future?

Reply:

According to the Western Cape Department of Health, the Department has taken a multi-pronged approach to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future. In line with the Departments security strategy, the department has commenced with the following:

  1. Liaised with Western Cape Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety for a standard operating procedure to guide hospital CEOs with oversight and management of armed South African Police Service (SAPS) officials who access health care facilities including armed SAPS officials who are guarding patients requiring inpatients care.
  2. Coordination by the Western Cape Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety for the implementation of a Provincial Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the SAPS Western Cape Provincial Commander and the MEC of Western Cape Health and Wellness. This MOA is to commit local resources for visibility and support of Health Facilities in the Province.
  3. The implementation of complementary security measures such as the implementation security technology to bolster the security officer deployment.
  4. A review of the current CCTV installations at health facilities and the procurement of CCTV systems on the approved tender since July 2021.

END.

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