Tarkastad residents have vowed to shut down the town again if they are not given a meeting with health MEC Ntandokazi Capa over plans to downgrade Martje Venter Provincial Hospital.
But Capa has reiterated her previous commitment to have public engagements before decisions are finalised.
“We have not downgraded the hospital as a consultation process is still coming to the public,” she said.
The residents shut down the small town on Friday last week after finding out the hospital was earmarked to be changed to a community healthcare centre operating just eight hours a day.
This week, the residents demanded answers from the department and action by Friday.
Hospital board chair Siya Nkatu, who is also a community leader, said: “If the hospital is downgraded to a community healthcare centre there will be a problem, as admission of patients will only be done in a limited time, which is 72 hours.
“Some patients will have to be transferred to Hewu Hospital [a 208-bed hospital in Whittlesea] or Frontier Hospital [a 245-bed hospital in Komani].”
He said residents would struggle to travel the long distances and could not afford the transport costs.
“Some will feel displaced being admitted at a hospital far from home, with no relatives able to visit,” he said.
“Frontier Hospital already has a backlog of patient admissions, and the state of the hospital is not good.”
Nkatu said Martje Venter Hospital, also known as Tarka Hospital, had a maternity ward and mortuary.
“Our community will be highly affected ... The hospital also serves areas in Ntabethemba, Thornhill, Tendergate and Hofmeyr.
“Our road, the R61, is infamous for fatal vehicle accidents, so it will be difficult for patients to travel to Komani. The hospital is gazetted as [having] 20 beds, but it has 35.”
He called for the hospital to instead be upgraded and expanded.
“Our community was promised better service delivery, but they feel neglected. Now it seems to be happening again with the hospital.”
Resident and regional Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA secretary Yonela Gxothiwe said repurposing the hospital would cause retrenchments.
“There will be posts which are not going to be required if the hospital is repurposed or reclassified,” he said.
“A clinic does not require posts such as cooks and a chief executive officer, so people are going to lose their jobs.
“The hospital does not belong to the workers, but to the community, so the department should consult with the community first before taking any decisions.”
Gxothiwe said the hospital could not be reclassified, because the town already had nine clinics.
“All the clinics send their referrals to the hospital.
“It will be a struggle to send patients to Whittelsea or Komani as some cannot afford transport fees and we do not have ambulances.”
Resident Andiswa Kula said they were not happy about the situation.
“They told us the CHC is going to offer more services, which we do not believe, because they could render those services at Martje Venter Hospital.”
Capa said: “We are still engaging with our partners and stakeholders internally.
“Once we have completed those discussions, we will consult the public as we do not take any decisions without consulting community members.”
Capa reassured residents that no hospitals would be closed.
“The community of Tarkastad must relax as we are not closing their facilities.
“We are still engaging with those who are affected internally as there will be migration of employees to different facilities.”
Capa announced during a media briefing at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha on March 3 that the reclassifications would enhance access to primary healthcare facilities, especially in remote areas, while optimising constrained resources.
Daily Dispatch
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