The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health has addressed growing public concern over misleading reports alleging failures in the kidney dialysis equipment at several public hospitals across the eThekwini region.

The department said that the reports are false and misleading and do not reflect the reality of its service delivery.

“There is no crisis or systemic failure of dialysis machines in our eThekwini facilities,” the department said. 

The department confirms the following:

• At Addington Hospital, over 18 dialysis machines are fully operational and providing uninterrupted services to patients.
• At St Aidan’s Hospital, over 19 dialysis machines are fully functional and operating as scheduled.
• At Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, all dialysis machines are fully operational and patient schedules are being met.

“The false reports, specifically demonstrate a profound lack of verification by including McCord Hospital as a facility with non-functioning dialysis machines,” the department said. 

The department clarified that McCord Hospital is a specialist eye hospital and does not provide renal dialysis services. 

“Contrary to the unfounded allegations, all patients who were scheduled for dialysis treatment at our operational facilities have been attended to accordingly,” the department said. 

“Our scheduled dialysis programmes across all public hospitals in Durban are running in order, and patient care remains our top priority.” 

The department denied the rumours, including that a patient died due to non-functional equipment. 

“This allegation is completely untrue. All patients who met the departmental criteria and were scheduled for treatment were seen without incident,” the department said. 

“We understand that news of this nature can cause significant anxiety and fear among our patients and their families.” 

The department urged the public to remain calm and rely on official channels for accurate information. 

The department also called on the media and the public to exercise caution and to confirm all information directly with its official communications unit before publication or dissemination.

“Spreading unverified information is irresponsible and causes unnecessary panic,” the department said. 

It added that its commitment to delivering high-quality healthcare services to the people of KZN remains steadfast.

Addington Hospital CEO Mthetheleli Ndlangisa said that the hospital has never had a problem with dialysis machines in the last six months to a year.

Ndlangisa said that all patients booked for dialysis who meet the Health Department’s criteria have received treatment. They have 18 dialysis machines and have no operational problems with any of them. He said he is uncertain of the source of any information suggesting otherwise.

He said that to his knowledge, machines at St Aidan’s Hospital and Albert Luthuli Hospital are working. 

“If one of us has a machine breakdown, because we are large centres, we ask each other for help so our patients don’t suffer,” Ndlangisa said. 

thobeka.ngema@inl.co.za

Source link