Phone lines down at public hospitals due to unpaid bills: DA’s Bloom

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Patients in Gauteng may be struggling to call through to public hospitals. According to the Democratic Alliance (DA) Health spokesperson, Jack Bloom, telephone lines at several Gauteng public hospitals are not working due to unpaid bills.

Bloom says Charlotte Maxeke, Steve Biko Academic, Thelle Mogoerane, Kopanong and Weskoppies are some of the affected hospitals.

The Gauteng Health Department says it will issue a statement soon.

Bloom says patients and their relatives cannot contact the hospitals to make appointments, inquiries or get updates.

“It’s really shocking that for more than two weeks; thousands of patients and anxious relatives have been unable to get hold of Gauteng hospitals. Switchboards are not working because the telephone bill has not been paid. Can you imagine the distress if you cannot find out how your relative is doing or you can’t make an appointment. I mean this is extremely disruptive and there is no excuse for not paying bills. DA calls on the Gauteng Health Department to pay the telephone bills as soon as possible.”