COVID-19: Staff at Eastern Cape hospital fear for their lives
Staff at the Tower Psychiatric Hospital in Fort Beaufort believe they’re being kept in the dark about COVID-19 deaths at the Eastern Cape hospital. They claim there has been an alarmingly high number of deaths in the last two months, yet very few staff are being tested.
At least 10 patients have died in the past two months and the employees suspect their deaths were COVID-19-related. They say the hospital management has not been honest.
One employee said out of 14 wards, only one ward — Clinic A — has been tested for COVID-19. Eight staff members from the ward that were tested were found to be positive. Colleagues say management refuses to test any other employees unless they show symptoms.
An employee said they have shared public transport with some of their colleagues who tested positive for the virus and yet, has not been tested.
The Eastern Cape health department confirmed the deaths at the hospital were COVID-19 related. Tower Hospital, contrary to the general belief, people don’t suffer exclusively from mental health disease,” said Eastern Cape Medical Services Director, Dr Mthandeki Xamlashe.
“They also have hypertension, they also have asthma, they have cardiac problems as it exists in the general population. So COVID-19 would obviously cause an increase in the number of deaths. But these are COVID-associated deaths.” Xhamlashe confirmed that to date, 15 employees have tested positive.
Employees have also said temperature screening is not done regularly and the hospital has not had a doctor specialising in psychiatry since 2018.
The Health Department says medical staff don’t have to be screened daily and this hospital doesn’t need a specialist psychiatrist. Coronavirus Hotline Number: 0800 029 999 from 8 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday
Help protect your loved ones by sharing this official South African government COVID-19 service with your family, friends and community. Send HI to 0600 123 456 on WhatsApp.
The NICD has another Clinician Hotline to improve #COVID19 communication and support for healthcare providers. The Clinician Hotline is 0800 11 1131, operating 24 hrs. The Public Hotline is 0800 029 999 also operating 24hrs.
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Source: eNCA
