KZN Health Committee reports hospitals preparing for festive-season surge
Dr Pixley KaIsaka ka Seme Memorial Hospital was among the hospitals visited by the KZN Health Portfolio Committee.
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The KwaZulu-Natal Health Portfolio Committee says festive-season oversight visits show that hospitals and emergency services along the N2 corridor are largely preparing well for December’s peak pressure.
During the festive season there is usually a higher demand for health services due to the influx of tourists, increase in road accidents and other trauma cases including near drownings.
Committee chairperson Dr Imran Keeka led the second annual oversight inspection, covering Ngwelezana Tertiary Hospital, Justice Gizenga Mpanza Memorial Hospital, Dr Pixley ka Isaka Seme Memorial Hospital, Port Shepstone Hospital, and GJ Crookes Hospital.
Keeka said this year’s programme builds on last year’s programme. “We conducted a festive-season oversight check to assess the readiness of facilities for the festive season. It is the second year now that we have done it,” he said.
He emphasised that the visit covered a range of hospital types to gauge the province-wide readiness.
“The facilities also are a mixture of the types of facilities, tertiary to district,” Keeka said.
The Committee also assessed emergency services, disaster management, fire and rescue, district and local authorities, traffic law enforcement, SAPS, and forensic pathology teams.
“We took a holistic approach to the festive season. While our focus was on healthcare, it is important that we look at the other services because they impact,”Keeka explained.
Road safety operations were a key focus. “If they get drunk drivers off the roads, they are able to reduce the number of casualties, either pedestrian or motor-vehicle casualties that end up in facilities,” he noted.
With KZN’s coastline expecting heavy holiday traffic, the Committee also assessed beach readiness.
“We also checked on beaches along the shoreline to ensure that there are enough lifeguards because enough lifeguards means that they will prevent many drownings, or drownings to the best of their ability,”Keeka said.
In its official statement, the committee urged residents and visitors to obey speed limits, avoid drinking and driving, keep beaches and public spaces clean, respect law enforcement and lifeguards, and remain cautious to prevent disease and injury.
“We must remain proactive through unashamed and rigorous oversight. The people of KZN and indeed our visitors deserve no less,” Keeka said.