Department of health employees at the Nelson Mandela Academic hospital in Mthatha have to travel close to 500km daily to Mdantsane to do their laundry at the Cecilia Makiwane Hospital because of faulty machines at their own hospital.
Workers said only one washing machine and one dryer was working at their hospital but also not at full capacity.
A source, speaking on condition of anonymity out of fear of victimisation, said they took turns to travel to CMH, where they did the laundry overnight.
It is not just the NMAH linen that we wash, but Bedford and Mthatha General Hospital laundry as well. Theatre laundry is done at a laundromat in Mthatha
“It is not just the NMAH linen that we wash, but Bedford and Mthatha General Hospital laundry as well. Theatre laundry is done at a laundromat in Mthatha,” the source said.
Health spokesperson Yonela Dekeda confirmed the laundry was not “functioning at its full capacity due to unforeseen breakdowns in machinery”.
“The laundries of the district hospitals do not have the capacity to do laundry for a central and a regional hospital [their machines are too small], Dekeda said.
“The capacity of laundry machines procured for a hospital is determined by the clinical services that require laundry services in a hospital.”
She said clinical services factors that influenced the type of laundry machines procured for a facility included the number of beds, outpatient departments, theatres and clinical support services provided at a hospital.
Dekeda said the management at NMAH remained truly grateful to the drivers who were supporting them during these challenging times.
She said delays were experienced in receiving spare parts from abroad because of Covid-19 restrictions.
“A tender to procure the machines was advertised and closed on June 30 2021.
“The department of health did not manage to attract responsive bids and that process had to be cancelled.
“A second bid was then re-advertised and will be closing on November 4.
“The department of health did put money aside for the total refurbishment of the laundry, among other needs at NMAH.
“The department of public works & infrastructure, as the implementing agent, has awarded a three-year contract to undertake the refurbishment of the laundry.
“The contractor is preparing for the site establishment and is expected to start soon.”
Another source who works at the laundry said their work had become depressing.
You find piles of dirty linen. It is packed on those trucks every day. The management seem to be blind to the pain we are suffering
“You find piles of dirty linen.
“It is packed on those trucks every day.
“The management seem to be blind to the pain we are suffering.
“They come to the laundry, take notes and leave and nothing is done about this.
“We earn R3,500 a month, with no benefits.
“It’s just that we need jobs, but working like this is not good.
Dekeda said they did not have enough vehicles or staff to send to different locations at the same time.
“The department of health uses its own transport fleet and staff to transport the laundry from NMAH to CMH.
“We are processing the approval for our drivers’ subsistence and travel allowances so that they can be paid in line with regulations.”
She said the strategy was to appoint laundry workers on a contract basis while awaiting the formal approval of the revised organigram for the institution.
“This is still work in progress, though approval has been granted to contract these workers up to the end of March 2022.
“When a revised organigram is approved, the recruitment processes will take place.
“Our contract workers have the same conditions of service as all other contract workers in the department.”
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