Latest news with #CMJAH
The Citizen
24-06-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Charlotte Maxeke repairs on track, says Gauteng Health
Phase one, which includes demolition and reconstruction work in critical areas, is expected to be completed by August 2026. The Gauteng Department of Health on Monday confirmed that the remedial work to repair the fire-damaged Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH) is progressing well and remains on schedule. The hospital suffered significant damage in a fire in April 2021. Since then, the department has made 'significant strides' in restoring operations, with the hospital now operating at a bed capacity that exceeds pre-fire levels. Project in two phases The repair project is being conducted in two phases. Phase one focuses on repairing Blocks 4 and 5 North, while phase two will involve hospital-wide fire compliance upgrades, which require R1.7 billion in funding. According to the department, a prefeasibility report and concept report have already been approved, and a business case is being developed. 'The department is actively exploring various funding options and private investments to support this critical phase,' it said. Phase one, which includes demolition and reconstruction work in critical areas, is expected to be completed by August 2026. As of April 2025, R139 million of the allocated R426 million budget for Work Package One has been spent. ALSO READ: Alarm raised over 'R1.7bn fire safety gap' at Charlotte Maxeke hospital Restoration milestones reached Key areas that have already been restored and are operational include the Radiation Oncology Unit and the Accident and Emergency Department. 'A new state-of-the-art dry store facility has been constructed to enhance the storage and accessibility of vital medical supplies,' said the department. To improve safety, new fire doors have been installed throughout much of the hospital. A temporary access ramp has also been constructed, enabling staff to access 300 parking bays at the P3 level, although fire-damaged bays remain closed until they are fully repaired. ALSO READ: Operations continue at Tembisa hospital after second fire in less than a week Patient care remains central The department assured the public that safety and care remain top priorities. Instead of scattering services across multiple facilities, the hospital has adopted a decanting strategy to rotate services internally during the ongoing construction. 'This approach ensures that all services remain within the hospital for better patient care,' the department said. Hospital management and project teams have implemented safety measures and committed to maintaining open communication with staff and stakeholders as work progresses. NOW READ: Gauteng Health's warning for parents
The Citizen
09-05-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
DA blames Charlotte Maxeke hospital CEO for food and hot water issues
The shadow MEC said staff do not hold Bogoshi in high regard, as they believe laundry, food, heating, and staffing issues have worsened since she became CEO in February 2013. The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has called for the removal of the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH) CEO, following allegations that patients were left without food and hot water. The party called for Gladys Bogoshi's removal this week, after reports that doctors and nurses struggled to care for hungry patients who were served only bread and porridge instead of a balanced, nutritious diet. DA shadow health MEC Jack Bloom claimed the hospital had even run out of basic supplies like tea and sugar. No food or hot water at Charlotte Maxeke hospital – DA The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH), however, dispelled claims that the hospital compromised patient care on Friday. Bloom said CMJAH management failed to communicate with staff while rumours about problems with food contracts allegedly circulated. 'A competent CEO would have contingency plans for food shortages and would communicate extensively,' Bloom said in a statement on Wednesday. ALSO READ: 'Blatantly xenophobic': Charlotte Maxeke hospital sued for refusing to save Zimbabwean girl's life The shadow MEC said staff do not hold Bogoshi in high regard, as they believe laundry, food, heating, and staffing issues have worsened since she became CEO in February 2013. 'She should have been held accountable for the devastating fire in April 2021, and she showed poor leadership in the slow restoration of services thereafter,' Bloom said. 'A top-class CEO should be recruited urgently to fix the hospital's manifold problems, restore trust with staff, and improve the quality of patient care.' Hospital continues to receive food supplies – GDoH The department hit back at Bloom's claims, saying that the hospital had experienced delays in the supply of patient food around mid-March due to compliance issues between the food supply company and the local municipality. GDoH spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said the matter had long been resolved and CMJAH continues to receive food supplies. 'It is imperative to clarify that no patient was starved of food during the delays in supply; the hospital management proactively managed the situation with contingency orders for in-house cooking to ensure that all patients continued to receive three meals a day.' ALSO READ: Gauteng Health slams 'misleading' reports on hospital security costs 'It is our priority to ensure that all patients receiving care in our facilities are treated with the highest standard of care,' Modiba said. Regarding the hot water issue, the department explained that the hospital uses steam in calorifiers to supply hot water. These calorifiers function as heat exchangers, forcing steam through coils to heat the surrounding water. 'The coils in these calorifiers have corroded and must be replaced. Unfortunately, the coils are not off-the-shelf items and must be manufactured with a turnaround time of four to six weeks,' the department said. Modiba claims that only two hospital blocks have experienced problems with the hot water supply for a few weeks due to these corroded coils. Corroded coils being fixed In addition to boiled kettle water, areas affected receive hot water from the surrounding wards and clinics. 'A contractor is currently on-site, and installation for the first block is currently underway and is expected early in the coming week. Work on the second block will begin as soon as the first block is completed, as the installations cannot be performed simultaneously,' the department said. NOW READ: Financial crisis in Gauteng health department disrupts hospital services
