Mofolo Clinic was one of several visited by health inspectors last December. However, allegations have been made that the clinic officials, forewarned of the visit, borrowed equipment from other nearby facilities in order to appear better resourced than they actually are.

The high score they received qualified them to become a 24-hour clinic.

24-hour operation

Falatsi Mphuthi, chairperson of the Mofolo Clinic Committee, commenting on the issue, said: “It is true that Mofolo Clinic is supposed to operate 24 hours a day. But due to many unresolved issues we cannot. These include things like a shortage of equipment – particularly emergency equipment.”

This time they obtained an overall score of 92%, which meant they achieved gold status.

Gauteng Health Department spokesman Steve Mabona said: “The first Provincial Peer review assessment was conducted on the 9 December 2015, and the overall score was 60%. Another one was conducted again on 5 February this year, and the overall score was 68%. The facility did qualified for the improvement plan and was assessed again in March. This time they obtained an overall score of 92%, which meant they achieved gold status,” Mabona said.

But, Mphuthi said, the increased scores were awarded to the clinic because of equipment they had borrowed prior to the inspections that were done.

Gold status

He said Mofolo Clinic had scored better than other clinics in the area. But now, after achieving gold status, they were unable to perform to the level expected. And operating as a 24-hour healthcare facility has been impossible.

Mabona explained: “The facility currently operates from 7am to 4pm on weekdays, from 7am to 1pm on Saturdays and is closed on Sundays and public holidays. The maternity and obstetric unit (MOU) operates 24 hours a day and a 24-hour emergency unit is in the planning stage.”

He said the Department was not aware that Mofolo Clinic had borrowed equipment from other facilities ahead of their inspections in order to receive better-than-deserved scores.

“The matter is now being investigated,” he said. – Health-e News