By Anita Dangazele
The Gauteng Department of Health will look into claims of negligence at Helen Joseph Hospital following a social media complaint from a patient.
Department spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said the probe was triggered by a video posted online by a patient named Mr Tom London, who raised several concerns about the hospital’s care.
“GDoH has learned of a video posted on social media by a patient who goes by the name Mr Tom London, who made several allegations against Helen Joseph Hospital. The matter is being investigated to establish the facts and address the issues raised by the complainant,” said Modiba.
In the video, the patient accuses hospital staff, including doctors, of being unfriendly and disrespectful.
“Doctors that run around here treat the patients like cockroaches. I haven’t seen one doctor here walk up to a patient and say ‘Good morning, Mr so-and-so, how are you?’ Nothing! They treat the patients with absolute disdain and disrespect. I’m talking about from the young doctor from Wits all the way up the chain,” he said.
Modiba said the department has launched a campaign called *I Serve With A Smile*, aiming to improve staff behavior and patient care across health facilities.
The patient also mentioned poor hospital infrastructure. In response, Modiba noted that the department has created an internal Infrastructure Unit to manage hospital maintenance and upgrades.
“Previously, this function was carried out by a sister department of infrastructure. Through this intervention, several facilities have already undergone maintenance and refurbishments, such as the completed ICU wards at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital and Jubilee District Hospital. Discoverers Community Health Centre and Kopanong Hospital have also undergone substantial refurbishments,” Modiba said.
He highlighted that Helen Joseph Hospital’s Emergency Department was refurbished and reopened in May 2024, featuring modernized medical and surgical rooms, new ceilings, plumbing, and better IT systems.
The hospital is set for further maintenance to improve infrastructure, he added, and urged patients to report any service complaints to the facility’s quality assurance offices.
Pictured above: Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg.
Source: X
