Delft community pickets over poor service, negligence at Delft Day Hospital

CAPE TOWN - A group of Delft residents in Cape Town say the conditions at a local day hospital risk patients' lives.
 
On Wednesday, a handful of community members picketed outside the Delft Day Hospital over poor service delivery and negligence.

They demand the resignation of the facility's manager.
 
Residents also complained about a staff shortage at the hospital.

A Delft resident, Hagar Kruger, told Eyewitness News staff negligence at the Delft Day Hospital led to her child's death in 2022.
 
"I walked away from here, and I gave birth on the road because the hospital turned me away. We phoned the ambulance the whole morning, but it only came in the evening, but the child had passed away already."
 
Community worker Shirley De Bruyn said conditions had not improved.
 
"Last month, I think about six or seven died unnecessarily, and the nurses turning babies that are really sick away. So, we as the community are really tired."

'THE ROT'
 
Residents said the conditions inside the hospital show little regard for needy patients.

Some Delft residents in said they'll continue exposing what they call “the rot” at the Delft Day hospital until changes are made.
   
Long queues, disappearing folders, and the turning away of patients are some of the issues highlighted by protestors outside the Delft Day hospital. 

Delft community worker Inshaaf Jaffer told Eyewitness News how the hospital neglected her son who was bitten by a dog.
 
"Last year March, my son was here for 3 days, just sitting. After the third day, the doctor didn't even want to give him medication, they didn't even want to give him a certificate. So where do I go from here, this is my day hospital that gives this service delivery."
 
Handing over the memorandum to hospital officials, residents demanded the resignation of the facility’s manager.

They said enough is enough.