Note to Editors: Attached please find a soundbite in English here by Madeleine Hicklin MPL
The shortage of government-issued winter clothing is affecting patients at the Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital in Tshwane. The patients are still wearing summer trousers, tops, no socks, and threadbare dressing gowns. Not only is there a shortage of winter clothing, but the facility has only one washing machine on the property. As the temperatures drop below 5 five degrees, patients must endure unbearable cold.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng was reliably informed by concerned patient parents that, earlier this week, the hospital began issuing socks to patients for the first time this winter. Additionally, some gowns in better condition were found for patients who were feeling cold. Parents of patients are not allowed to bring in additional clothing, as this creates unease among patients, and some clothes go missing, even marked with name tags.
To make matters worse, the heating in the ward is barely functional, and patients continually complain to both staff and relatives about being cold and unable to get warm. The clothing supplied to patients is threadbare and has not been replaced in years, with many of the trousers being too loose because the elastic is no longer functional.
The DA Gauteng condemns the neglect of psychiatric patients in Weskoppies’ care. The DA Gauteng urges MEC for Health, Faith Mazibuko, to urgently address the situation, as winter has not fully arrived yet, and conditions will only worsen.
The DA Gauteng will table questions to the MEC Mazibuko, to determine how this situation will be addressed regarding the severe shortage of winter clothing for patients, the washing machine, and the non-functional heating system at this hospital.
A DA-led Gauteng provincial government would ensure that the facility’s heating is addressed immediately and that patients are provided with adequate winter pyjamas and gowns as a matter of urgency.
The DA Gauteng is the only party that has a plan to improve the healthcare system in the province. The turnaround plan that the DA Gauteng has in place will ensure that everyone dependent on government health care receives quality health care.