Groote Schuur Hospital faces vandalism, weak infrastructure and theft challenges

Groote Schuur Hospital has acknowledged the challenges of vandalism, weak infrastructure and theft that was raised in a recently released report by the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) following an oversight visit to the hospital.

The Western Cape Provincial Office (WCPO) conducted an oversight visit in terms of the SAHRC monitoring mandate on 21 February. 

SAHRC spokesperson, Wisani Baloyi, said that each year the National Preventive Mechanisms (NPM) Unit of the SAHRC monitors places of deprivation of liberty including correctional centres, police stations, child and youth Care centres and psychiatric facilities.

“The mandate for a NPM comes from the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT), a human rights treaty drafted by States who wanted to ensure stronger protection for people deprived of their liberty. 

“Central to the OPCAT is the idea that a system of regular, independent visits to places of deprivation of liberty can serve as an important safeguard against abuses and prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in places that by their very nature fall outside the public scrutiny,” Baloyi said.

He explained that monitoring visits by the SAHRC’s NPM Unit are complementary oversight visits, and that this mechanism is preventive and proactive as opposed to a complaints-based system.

“The psychiatric ward at Groote Schuur Hospital, was therefore identified as a place of deprivation of liberty and scheduled for monitoring on the above basis.

“Monitoring involves gathering data that relates to the Institution’s information, observing the current staff availability, the availability of accommodation/beds for patients, the available medical services for patients, observing the living conditions of the patients, facility infrastructure and the observing the internal complaints mechanisms that the Institution has in place,” Baloyi said.

He said that during the WCPO’s observation it was evident that the Groote Schuur Hospital’s Psychiatric Unit has a reasonable and secure complaints mechanism in place with the support of Quality Assurance staff, and that sufficient staff were available to care for the patients. 

“However, it was mentioned that the institution experiences a challenge in recruiting nurses with specialised knowledge and experience of psychiatry.

“The only matter of concern was the observations of infrastructural challenges such as burst pipes which results in leakages into the living quarters of the patients, and which then impacts on the living conditions of the patients. Officials advised that regular maintenance is currently underway to repair the infrastructure,” Baloyi said.

“The WCPO will conduct follow up engagements with the institution in order to monitor progress in respect of repairs.”

Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness spokesperson Dwayne Evans has acknowledged the concerns raised about the infrastructural challenge at the hospital.

“It is important to note that Groote Schuur Hospital’s Old and New Main Buildings are approaching 90 and 60 years, respectively. As such, continuous maintenance and repair efforts are being undertaken to address these age-related challenges,” Evans said.

“Unfortunately, acts of vandalism and theft of critical infrastructure have further complicated these efforts, posing risks to both staff and patients. Nevertheless, we remain committed to ensuring a safe and dignified environment for all. Regular maintenance is ongoing, and additional measures are being explored to enhance the facility’s resilience.”

Evans said that the shortage of specialised psychiatric nurses is a national challenge that has impacted many institutions, including Groote Schuur Hospital. 

“We have multiple ongoing recruitment processes aimed at increasing the number of specialist nurses and other healthcare professionals at the facility. In addition, continuous in-service training is provided to general nurses to enhance their ability to care for mental health patients effectively. 

“Initiatives such as the Very Important Pensioners (VIP) programme are also in place to attract retired specialist nurses back into the workforce. These efforts reflect our commitment to maintaining high standards of care despite the broader national challenges,” Evans said.

He added that the department appreciates the SAHRC’s recognition of the reasonable and secure complaints mechanisms in place and the support provided by our Quality Assurance staff. 

“We are committed to working closely with the SAHRC to address the highlighted concerns and will continue to engage them in follow-up discussions to report on our progress. We value the opportunity to provide clarity and context regarding the ongoing efforts at Groote Schuur Hospital.”

theolin.tembo@inl.co.za