Question NW2260 to the Minister of Health
30 June 2023 - NW2260
Chirwa, Ms NN to ask the Minister of Health
What are the (a) reasons that the Mafikeng Provincial Hospital does not have enough beds and space for new-borns who are currently being placed in boxes and (b) details of intervention steps he has taken (i) regarding this matter and (ii) to ensure that this never occurs in any hospital across the Republic?
Reply:
- It is not true that Mahikeng Provincial Hospital does not have enough beds and space for the newborn babies. The hospital has enough bed space to accommodate the new babies who were placed in boxes. The babies were not placed in the cardboard boxes because of the shortage of beds and/or space.
- The details of intervention steps are:
- The hospital has started with the procurement of additional medical equipment; enforcement of referral policy, diversion of patients who need treatment at some other facilities, to ease up the pressure from the hospital, improved proactive planning based on the workload that determines and anticipates the sudden increase in deliveries.
- The hospital managers are advised to make provision for sudden increase of the workload such as the one of increases deliveries. The situation will be attained through proper planning based on the health service information. The hospital managers are also encouraged to ensure that they enforce optimal utilisation of available resources and sharing of resources within the catchment area.
END.