Sibongakonke Shoba
21 February 2008
Johannesburg — THE Gauteng health department will improve security at public health facilities after conducting an investigation that identified "challenges and gaps" in security at hospitals in the province, MEC Brian Hlongwa said yesterday.
Briefing the media on key priorities and announcements for 2008-09, Hlongwa said his department would invest in the procurement of security services and security technology to ensure the safety of patients, health workers and visitors. A number of criminal incidents were reported in Gauteng hospitals last year.
However, Hlongwa was reticent to release information on the findings of the audit and whether, while waiting for the implementation of the strategies, Gauteng hospitals were safe .
He said security measures had been taken at Chris Hani-Baragwanath, Dr George Mkhari and Johannesburg hospitals. "Chris Hani-Baragwanath Hospital in particular has procured additional security teams while awaiting the implementation measures in accordance with new norms and standards."
Hlongwa said the "challenge" with Chris Hani-Baragwanath was that it was located between an informal settlement and a taxi rank. "We have a high pedestrian volume of people who have nothing to do with the hospital and who cross through the hospital to the taxi rank."
Staff at the hospital have to move between buildings at night, and there is poor visibility because of a lack of lighting, he said. "As a short-term solution, we have improved light ing and provided a courier service that is accompanied by a security guard at night."
His department had also started piloting smart card technology that is aimed at reducing waiting times. It will also improve the quality of healthcare and install an electronic record system. "We plan to roll it out to 30% of health facilities by the end of the year. We will start with clinics, progressing to community health centres and hospitals." The smart cards would contain the name of the patients and their medical information.
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