On Tuesday, 10 October 2023, the North West Provincial Legislature Portfolio Committee on Health and Social Development conducted an oversight visit at the Witrand Hospital

On Tuesday, 10 October 2023, the North West Provincial Legislature Portfolio Committee on Health and Social Development conducted an oversight visit at the Witrand Hospital as part of the oversight week that is currently taking place in various municipalities under the Bojanala District Municipality. The program is aimed at strengthening oversight and public participation and to promote accountability and transparency in government.

The hospital that has been in existent for 100 years, is situated in JB Marks Local Municipality in the Dr. Kenneth Kaunda District with 695 933 population.

Witrand Hospital is a Psychiatric unit that serves as the Dr. Kenneth Kaunda District referral unit for acute and sub-acute psychiatry after admission through 72-hour units. It also serves currently as a referral unit for substance rehabilitation for the Department of Social Development for the North West Province. Long-term psychiatric inpatients and forensic services are the core function of Bophelong Psychiatric Hospital.

The hospital was gazetted as a specialized hospital which provides amongst others clinical services such as Psychiatric, Clinical Psychology, Pharmacy, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Dietician, Social Work, Speech therapy and Audiology, Biokinetics and Impatient Services.

Amongst some of the challenges mentioned by the CEO of the hospital, Ms Moiponi Mpolokeng was that most of the physical infrastructure has aged, the Laundry machines constantly breaks due to their long lifespan; Non-Completion of the main kitchen project, frequent breakages of boiler machines; old Information Technology (IT) infrastructure; inadequate transport poor vehicles; insufficient records management space and understaffing at Records Management unit.

Ms Mpolokeng stated before the committee that the hospital has a challenge of food shortage since Mediware was appointed.
“The contract of the service provider (Mediware) responsible for food security has been extended until 2027. The hospital has written several letters to the Department of Health in 2022 complaining of severe food shortages, no proper healthy and hygienic food, but nothing was done to remedy the challenge instead the contract was extended till 2027.

“We also need mental health coordinators who can assist in monitoring mental health patients after they are discharged from the hospital, so that there is consistent progress,” said Ms Mpolokeng
The committee appreciated the overall services provided at the hospital but recommended amongst others a full comprehensive report on all challenges presented, issues on back up electricity, water supply matters, and a complete list of IDT projects meant for 2023/24 financial year.

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