KZN Health MEC rubbishes claims of hospitals running out of beds
The Health MEC says there is no truth to claims KZN is running out of hospital beds and space in mortuaries.
Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu has lambasted those she says are circulating fake news and images on social media - claiming our hospitals are full.
She's admitted the province's public health care system is under severe pressure, but she insists there are beds for Covid-19 patients.
"As of the 28th of December, the overall beds for isolation and patients under investigation was 3477."
"Of these beds, 1289 were occupied which amount to 66-bed occupancy rate. The bed occupancy rate varies across the district with places like Ugu and eThekwini being under pressure," she adds.
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She says there's a high demand for beds for Covid-19 patients because some people present their cases at a late stage.
"Be the time patients come to the hospital they are already complicated and require high care in ICU. There are districts that aren't regarded as hotspots which have low bed occupancy."
"Our plan is, if one district runs out of beds patients will be moved with there are beds. All hotspot districts have field hospitals that have been created over and above the normal beds."
