Johannesburg – The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) expresses its “significant concern” regarding the insufficient cleanliness standards and poor patient care at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital.
DENOSA reports that the ongoing shortage of clean linen is due to the failure of the laundry department’s washing machines.
The backlog of unprocessed laundry has also raised red flags within the union.
This matter was first brought to light last month on 13 November by MPL Jack Bloom, the Democratic Alliance Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health.
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“Observing uncollected and dirty linen piling up in different units and corridors of the hospital has become a routine sight, causing considerable concern among nurses about the compromised hygiene standards within the facility,” DENOSA mentioned in a press release on Sunday, (8 December 2024).
“Considering how the linen is stored, it is highly likely that a significant portion of it may not be reusable, as it might have incurred permanent damage.
“The facility is now reliant on external service providers and concerned individuals for linen cleaning, which often leads to delays due to the hospital’s vast scale.”
The laundry area is so congested that some bundles of dirty linen have been abandoned outside.
DENOSA reported that the hospital has been functioning with only two washing machines since one malfunctioned and was never repaired.
“As of November, the two remaining machines have also ceased operation, leaving the hospital with no means to wash its linen,” DENOSA stated.
“For nursing and other healthcare professionals, maintaining cleanliness within a facility is essential for effective infection control measures.”
DENOSA highlighted that the lack of clean linen is negatively affecting patient care.
“Nurses are facing the frustration and confrontational behavior of patients’ relatives due to the unsanitary conditions… a situation that is beyond the control of the nursing staff,” lamented the nurses union.
DENOSA has brought this situation to the attention of the facility’s management, which is also hindering nurses’ ability to fulfill their responsibilities.
The organization is calling on the MEC of Health in the province to take immediate action to rectify the issue.
DENOSA stressed that Africa’s largest hospital cannot be allowed to operate without a functioning laundry.
Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (often referred to as Bara) is the largest hospital in Africa and ranks as the seventh largest globally.
The hospital has a workforce of 6,760 staff members and provides 3,400 beds.
