Sihlalo wale Ndlu, mama uThandi Modise, mandizeke mzekweni nam ndaleke umsundulo kwinto eseyithethwe ngoogxa bam oomama abahloniphekileyo uDlamini noMququ. Ndithi ekwamkeleni kwethu oku sithanda ukuthi ... (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[Ms T G MPAMBO-SIBHUKWANA: Chairperson of this House, the hon Thandi Modise, let me add to what has been said by my colleagues, the hon members Dlamini and Mququ. As we are considering this, we would like to say ...]
... on the consideration of the report of the Select Committee on Social Services on the oversight visit to the O R Tambo District Municipality in the Eastern Cape, the Western Cape would like to record the following declaration.
There are still many issues that were noted by the committee in the report and we need to take this into consideration. At the time of the visit to the Nessie Knight Hospital, the committee was told it would be rebuilt. The hon Dlamini reiterated that the refurbishment of that hospital must be done because it is so outdated in terms of the missionary build.
Patients are transported from Bambisana Hospital and St Barnabas Hospital to the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, in Mthatha, some distance away. They are waitlisted due to the unavailability of transport. Patients are transported once a week, on a Thursday. Due to the infrequent transport system, patients' lives are put at risk, especially those who are in a critical condition with chronic diseases. There have been incidents of deaths because patients had to wait until a Thursday in order to be attended to at the hospital. How this will be addressed is not stated in the report.
Living quarters for doctors at St Barnabas Hospital are in an appalling condition. This should also be addressed in the report, as doctors are unable to operate at their most effective physical, mental and emotional state. As mentioned by the hon Mququ, the poor road infrastructure to St Barnabas Hospital compromises the critical and timeous departure and arrival of ambulances.
There appears to be no co-ordination between the Department of Health and Department of Transport in the Eastern Cape to address the issue. This has to be taken into account. It is critical that the departments work together, as the situation is detrimental to the health and lives of many poor people within the Eastern Cape. I thank you, Chair.