WC Health Dept responds to CapeTalk caller’s claim of 'inhumane' treatment at Lentegeur Hospital

Lester Kiewit is joined by Dr. Saadiq Kariem, Chief Operating Officer for the Western Cape Government Department of Health.

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A listener who called into CapeTalk to share his experience of attending the ER at a local hospital has highlighted the broader crisis facing the country's public medical institutions.

Abraham Fielies attended the Emergency Department at Lentegeur Hospital in Mitchells Plain at 6pm on Tuesday with what he believed were symptoms of a stroke. 

He says he was largely left unattended and was eventually assessed at 9am on Wednesday morning. 

He described the experience as 'inhumane'.

Dr Saadiq Kariem, Chief Operating Officer at the Western Cape Government Department says the emergency unit at the hospital is the busiest in the whole of the Western Cape.

"Abraham found himself amidst all of this business...and it's not a picture that different in other places...many of our public hospitals are incredibly over burdened."

Dr. Saadiq Kariem, Chief Operating Officer - Western Cape Government Department of Health

"We don't have sufficient staff and it's related to our funding as well."

Dr. Saadiq Kariem, Chief Operating Officer - Western Cape Government Department of Health

Dr Kaariem says public hospitals in certain areas, including Lentegeur Hospital, deal with a disproportionate number of cases related to gang violence in those areas.

"Places like Mitchell's Plain, Hanover Park, Delft those are some of the hotspots for violence."

Dr. Saadiq Kariem, Chief Operating Officer - Western Cape Government Department of Health

So why not direct extra resources to these facilities, asks Kiewit?

"We can't do it to the point where we decrease the resource envelope in other facilities."

Dr. Saadiq Kariem, Chief Operating Officer - Western Cape Government Department of Health

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