Heat is on: HVAC breakdown at Upington hospital causes surgery delays

THE DEMOCRATIC Alliance (DA) has raised concerns over the ongoing maintenance issues at Dr Harry Surtie Hospital in Upington, citing the latest breakdown of the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system as a major setback for healthcare services in the Northern Cape. The hospital's inability to regulate temperatures in operating theatres has resulted in further delays to an already extensive surgery backlog.

According to the DA, recent councillor visits confirmed that the HVAC system had been out of order for over two weeks. This malfunction has delayed urgent surgical procedures, including an operation for a patient with a broken femur sustained in a motor vehicle accident. The patient is among thousands waiting for surgery, with the province’s waiting list exceeding 8,000 cases last year.

Beyond affecting surgical schedules, the HVAC failure has also impacted patients recuperating in hospital wards, as they endure high temperatures that pose additional health risks. Hospital staff have also reportedly struggled to work under these conditions.

The DA attributed the issue to a lack of routine maintenance, including basic tasks like cleaning filters, as well as the absence of dedicated personnel to address minor problems such as tripped switches. The party expressed frustration, stating that they have been raising these concerns for two consecutive years without resolution. Similar problems have also been reported at Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital in Kimberley.

The DA has urged the Northern Cape Department of Health to prioritise infrastructure maintenance by ensuring that skilled personnel are employed to oversee continuous and routine maintenance at healthcare facilities. They have also called for properly funded infrastructure plans to be implemented to prevent further deterioration of critical systems.

In response, Lulu Mxekezo, speaking on behalf of the Northern Cape Department of Health, confirmed that steps have been taken to address the HVAC issues. The department has appointed a supplier for the maintenance of HVAC, firefighting equipment, and standby generators at Dr Harry Surtie Hospital, De Aar Hospital, and the Northern Cape Mental Health Hospital. This contract, set to begin in March 2025, will ensure that these systems are consistently serviced and operational.

Additionally, plans are in place to replace or repair critical HVAC components, including chillers and glycol chillers. The department also intends to appoint a contractor based in Upington to provide on-site maintenance daily.

Mxekezo further noted that in December 2024, the hospital faced widespread air-conditioning failures across its theatres, casualty units, and wards. During that period, only emergency C-sections and life-saving surgeries were conducted under sub-optimal conditions. Following an emergency approval, JKT Engineering Systems was contracted to address the issues and has remained on-site to provide ongoing maintenance in the absence of a long-term contractor.

To tackle the growing surgery backlog, the department has initiated multiple strategies, including surgery marathons in collaboration with various stakeholders, outreach programs to district hospitals, and measures to alleviate congestion at Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital.

Despite these assurances, the DA remains sceptical about the effectiveness of ad hoc repairs and has reiterated its call for a permanent infrastructure maintenance solution. The party has emphasised that without proactive measures, the cycle of breakdowns will continue to disrupt essential healthcare services in the province.