Most casualty patients are likely to wait more than four hours before being seen at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.
According to a written reply to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature, Priority 1 (P1) trauma patients are seen on arrival, but Priority 2 (P2) medical patients take a lot longer, sometimes more than 14 hours.
P2 patients are defined as conscious but unable to walk and should be seen within the benchmark time of 2 hours and 40 minutes.
But waiting time figures from last year show that this benchmark is hardly ever met e.g. in July, August, and September 2024, casualty patients waited on average for 4hours and 21 minutes.
In May 2024, patients in casualty waited for a horrendous 14 hours and 45 minutes!
The only explanation the department gives for this appalling waiting time is that “inconsistency in tagging the patients’ movement affects the data.”
It is inhuman that hundreds of accident and emergency patients wait so long for assistance at this hospital. Imagine their pain and distress, and the anxiety of their families as well!
The DA will pressure Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko to ensure that South Africa’s busiest casualty ward is properly staffed and equipped so that waiting times are minimised.
A DA-run health department would closely monitor all waiting times and intervene speedily when benchmark times are grossly violated.