​The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) has put measures in place to ensure that all hospitals in the province have adequate linen to cater for the demand in emergency care during the festive season.
MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko conducted an oversight support visit at various facilities in the province as part of the GDoH's safer festive season campaign. The MEC was furnished with an assurance that healthcare facilities are equipped and have adequate linen for patients and functional laundries and sluice rooms. 
"We are confident that all our facilities will be able to fully operate this festive season. There is no service that will not be rendered due to linen shortage. Most of our hospitals have stockpiles of linen ready for emergencies and influx of patients," said the MEC. 
Tembisa Hospital's laundry services supervisor, Alfred Shezi confirmed that the facility has adequate linen and patient garments to ensue uninterrupted services this festive season. 
"We are ready to accommodate and deliver the necessary healthcare services during this period. We are going to ensure that our patients have two sets of clothing for the day and linen that has been soiled will be washed using our sluice room and laundry so that we always have stock," said Shezi.  
Meanwhile, the GDoH has reassured the public that several measures continue to be implemented to ensure the provision of clean linen to patients at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital (CHBAH). 
"As previously alluded to, the facility's laundry has ageing infrastructure which requires an overhaul. In the meantime, a service provider has been appointed to carry out repairs on the laundry equipment to restore full functionality as quickly as possible. Currently three tunnel washers are out of service, with only five driers operational in tunnel washer number two. Already one out of four ironers has been successfully repaired," said Motalatale Modiba, GDoH Head of Communication. 
In the interim, CHBAH linens are being laundered at Dunswart Provincial Laundry on a daily basis to ensure a consistent supply of clean linen to patients. A total of 106 staff members are deployed at the laundry to boost the operation during the day and night shifts. 
Additionally, external two laundry service providers have also been appointed to further support these efforts. Already two 5-ton trucks have delivered clean linen over the weekend. 
Processes are underway to restore the CHBAH laundry to better functionality as speedily as possible.