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The Democratic Alliance (DA) in North West will write to the MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha, requesting his urgent intervention at the Klerksdorp Hospital after it came to light that the heating system is not properly functioning.

After an oversight visit to the hospital this week, we can attest to the fact that the heat generated by the current system is not conducive to regulating the body temperatures of vulnerable patients.

In his State of the Province Address on Friday, Premier Job Mokgoro stated that three hospitals have been earmarked to receive new boilers to improve temperatureregulation, but the Klerksdorp Hospital is not listed among them.

A full functioning heating system is crucial to especially safeguard premature babies and newborns from extreme cold weather conditions. It is unacceptable that these babies are left at the mercy of a failing heating system – to the extent that staff members are taking it upon themselves to bring extra blankets to ensure that the babies stay warm.

Unlike adults, newborn babies, but more specifically premature babies, are unable to regulate their body temperature. They have a far greater body surface area compared to weight and therefore lose heat much quicker.

Babies born in a hospital must be nursed in a properly regulated warm environment and therefore we call on MEC Sambatha to implement urgent contingency plans for keeping patients warm while the malfunctioning heating system is being upgraded.

The DA will be working with all stakeholders to ensure that healthcare in the province receives the necessary attention.

Issued by The DA