By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Office of the Health Ombud has found that two out of seven complaints made by patient Tom London against Helen Joseph Hospital were found to be unsubstantiated.
The Office of Health Standards Compliance (OHSC) and the Health Ombud released the findings of a risk-based inspection and investigation into allegations against the hospital.
In 2024, London took to social media, documenting his experiences and leveling serious accusations against the hospital staff and facilities.
His complaints centered on allegations of negligence, insensitive treatment, and severely compromised infrastructure.
CEO Dr Siphiwe Mndaweni released an investigative report into the hospital alongside that of the Health Ombudsman Taole Mokoena.
While most allegations of made by former broadcaster have been found as unsubstantiated – both departments made additional findings into the hospital pointing to financial mismanagement and a dysfunctional staff cohort and board.
Only two of the seven documented claims, according to the Health Ombud, could be substantiated.
This includes the fact that the hospital’s infrastructure was in poor condition and that London had to wait three days to be admitted to the medical ward. The investigation also found that security, meal delivery, and the availability of clean linen were among the support services that were declining.
“There was peeling paint from the ceilings and walls. There were broken basins and taps, non-functioning electrical plugs, and poor water flow to the wards due to a weak pump,” Mokoena confirmed.
The HR department was found to be “completely dysfunctional”.
“There was a poor working relationship between the HR manager and subordinates, leading to a general breakdown of authority within HR management,” Mokoena stated.
The hospital also lacked stable, experienced, and permanent professional management.
“Most senior posts, including that of the CEO, are occupied by acting personnel.
There is a general lack of governance, with departments functioning in silos and no policies or standard operating procedures in place at the hospital.”
Staff shortages further compounded the hospital’s challenges as resignations have been increasing, especially in the emergency department.
Mokoena explained that when the emergency department was revamped and relocated, some nursing staff were unhappy with the new arrangement and resigned, further burdening remaining staff.
“The workload, which was already extreme, became even worse, “he added.
The hospital’s financial and supply chain management was also flagged as an “area of concern”.
“There is no clear separation of duties within the finance department, therefore, making it risky.”
He emphasised that not only does this result in delayed or missed payments, but it also raises concerns about payments to wrong suppliers.
“That’s a polite way of saying there might be corruption,” Mokoena continued.
The Health Ombud made several recommendations to the Gauteng Department of Health and Helen Joseph Hospital to address these systemic issues.
Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has welcomed the ombud’s findings.
“I knew that immediately after the video and Gauteng (health) department announced they are going to rush there but I said the appropriate structure to investigate is the ombud because if you investigate yourselves, you leave the ugly part aside and I said no, Gauteng can’t investigate itself and someone else must come, who unveiled the whole truth and I am happy it happened that way.”
Motsoaledi has also called for a review of remunerative work outside the public service (RWOPS) amid concerns over mismanagement, particularly regarding doctors arriving late or being absent from their duties at state-owned hospitals.
Under the RWOPS programme, healthcare workers are allowed to take on private sector jobs, but only if they obtain approval from their management.
“You have got to be given permission, it’s not automatic,” the minister said.
Motsoaledi explained that RWOPS is a government initiative aimed at various sectors, including education and the police, but highlighted that it had mostly been utilised by healthcare workers.