Updated media statement from Netcare
The doctors met with Netcare on Friday morning in a very productive meeting to discuss the situation they found themselves in after Netcare’s announcement to close Paed & Maternity wards.
I believe the discussion was very well managed by Netcare who apologized for how things were handled from the start, and the aim of the meeting was to be as solution based as possible.
The fantastic news is that a paternity ward will remain open at Netcare Alberlito, albeit a reduced size, and all paediatric specialists will be retained.
The not so great news is that our Obstetricians will not be able to care for pregnant women or use Netcare facilities to deliver babies. “We can continue with general women’s health and gynaecology in the rooms near the hospital and gynaecology procedures in the hospital. No deliveries. We cannot manage pregnancy related issues as there will be no place for deliveries in the hospital. Those who continue with managing pregnancies will do so in other hospitals.”
This still leaves a gaping whole in our community for future parents-to-be, and a massive concern for our Obstetricians who pour most of their hearts and energy into the journey of pregnancy and birth with expectant mothers.
We are hopeful that we can still find better resolution around this area.
Dear Friends
It has been brought to our attention that Netcare head office has made a decision that they are closing all child medical facilities at Netcare Alberlito efffective January 2023. Their rationale is that it’s more financially viable to treat adult patients & surgeries only.
This means that all gynaecologists & paediatric doctors have been given notice that their lease will not be renewed in January.
Current paediatricians:
Prof Van Niekerk
Dr Comley
Dr Pather
Dr Chetty
Obstetricians:
Dr Mthethwa
Dr Roberts
Dr Lindeque
Dr Subrayan
Dr Ngotho
It also means that us Ballito residents will have no hospital facilities for our children. No Obstetricians for pregnant women. These doctors have been solely committed to providing the North Coast community with the best service and care, pouring their lives into health and wellness of us all, and are now left with Netcare quite literally closing the hospital doors in their faces and destroying everything they have built over the years. Alberlito is be the first – what hospitals will Netcare continue to roll this out in thereafter?
There are 3 routes to fight this decision:
1.) Lobby government as they reportedly made a new ruling that a hospital license does not require the hospital to care for children or mothers where it previously did.
2.) Public outcry to Netcare Head Office by emailing them on customer.service@netcare.co.za.
3.) Sign this petition and share it to show how we stand together against this
Remember bad things can only happen when good people stand by and do nothing. Everyone always thinks that someone else will do something with the result that nothing happens.
Ballito friends, let’s stand up and speak up for our children. Please share this message far and wide and get Netcare and government to reassess their strategy of protecting profit over people.
JOIN US FOR A PEACEFUL PROTEST THURSDAY 27 OCTOBER 4PM OUTSIDE ASHTON CIRCLE – WEAR BLACK
OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM HEALTH CARE PRACTIONERS AT ALBERLITO
Public statement by paediatricians and obstetricians with practices at the Netcare Alberlito Hospital
The acting hospital manager of Alberlito Hospital and the recently appointed regional manager of Netcare in KwaZulu Natal informed the paediatricians and obstetricians with practices at Alberlito Hospital that their leases will not be renewed in January 2023 and that they must vacate their consulting rooms by the end of April 2023. They also confirmed that the hospital will not offer admission facilities to sick children and birthing woman by May 2023. The reason given was that the admission rates to the paediatric, obstetric, and neonatal units were too low and that these units will be repurposed for higher income-generating services.
Paediatric and obstetric practices are not viable without admission facilities. There are no alternative admission facilities for sick children and birthing mothers in Ballito and this step will have a dire impact on the viability of our practices.
We notice the public outcry on social media and other platforms and want to thank our concerned patients and members of the community for their empathy, understanding and support.
This notice was handed down verbally on 20 October 2022 and are open to individual understanding. Netcare did not negotiate alternative options before informing us of their decision. We are still ‘bowled over’ and cannot immediately announce alternative plans but will keep our patients and the community informed. We are dedicated to this community and are seeking ways to maintain services.
We believe that children and pregnant woman should always have access to community- based healthcare. This decision will affect the children and pregnant woman who live in Ballito and will have a negative impact on the livelihood of most of us and our staff. We hope that these unfortunate events and resulting public outcry will open a national debate on funder reimbursement for especially paediatric care and the change in licencing policy (by the National Department of Health) that now allows community-based private hospitals to not offer lower income generating essential services.
By
Dr Strini Chetty
Dr Vanessa Comley
Dr Leneque Lindeque
Dr Nombuso Mthethwa
Dr David Ngotho
Dr Kamendran Pather
Dr Candice Roberts
Dr Marise Subrayan Professor André van Niekerk
22 October 2022
OFFICIAL MEDIA STATEMENT FROM NETCARE
If you have had your baby at Alberlito hospital between 2019 – 2021 please do comment on the petition – as stated in the media statement there were “none” delivered at this time. I personally already know of 8. again, if you gave birth vaginally/naturally in the period stipulated in this media statement please also share this on the petition – this information I have been informed is terribly incorrect according to OBGYN records.
You can find the petition here: https://bit.ly/3z5OfiXhttps://bit.ly/3z5OfiX
Please join us for a peaceful protest as we gather together to stand against this decision by NetCare to close the Peadiatric & Maternity wards at Alberlito Hospital as of May 2023.
We will have placards sharing our messages pleading with Netcare to reconsider this decision.
Please wear all black. Should you like to bring a big picture of your child that was either born at Alberlito Hospital or received treatment at the hospital that would be incredible. We consider the hospital a vital part of our community, it has served us over the past 15 years and we hope to stand together, unified as one, in the hopes that we can convince them to reverse this decision.
DATE: 27 October 2022
TIME: 4pm
VENUE: Opposite Ashton School in car park by Seawood Estate
We have received permissions from KDM and SAPS for this peaceful protest. Media will be present.
All information I have received above and am sharing as a concerned member of the Kwadukuza community and a concerned mother of her three children, all of whom were birthed at Alberlito hospital under the incredible care of Dr Candice Roberts. I cannot imagine these facilities being closed and with my platform hope to help do anything in my power to garner community support to be heard by Netcare to reconsider this decision 🙏🏼♥️
