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| ©Freddy Mavunda |
The Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital experienced cancellations due to heating system failures, causing 15 surgeries to be canceled due to low temperatures in the theatres. The facility had 53 scheduled operations for July 10, but only 26 were completed. Over 100 operations were canceled in three major Gauteng hospitals last week, including Charlotte Maxeke. The cancellations were attributed to water cut-offs, flooding, and heating failure in operating theatres. The impact of these cancellations is devastating for patients who may have waited over a year while suffering in pain.
The problem of temperature control has been challenging for the facility for years but has worsened in the last two years due to copper theft during the evacuation period. The central heating system, which regulates acceptable temperatures in the entire hospital, is affected by the issue. A contractor has installed schedule 40 pipes for blocks 2, 3, and 4, less susceptible to theft. The water system is running, closely monitoring all three blocks where the pipes were installed. The facility assures the public that the matter is getting the urgency it deserves and that canceled cases are being attended to.
