Helen Joseph Hospital emergency unit turns away patients as Gauteng health department fails to pay staff
Doctors at Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg allegedly warned patients to seek treatment elsewhere.
Patients seeking emergency treatment at Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg were allegedly turned away after the trauma unit leader warned that the department could not ensure safe care, due to unpaid staff and doctors refusing to work. On August 6th, 2026, Dr Patricia Saffy, head of the trauma unit, posted a notice advising patients to seek treatment elsewhere, as the emergency department remained closed for the rest of the month.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) expressed concern that this situation was endangering patients' lives. DA Gauteng health spokesperson Madeleine Hicklin stated, "Patients seeking admission to the emergency department at Helen Joseph tertiary hospital have been advised to seek treatment at another hospital. This is putting patients' lives and health in danger."
Hicklin claimed that the closure and diversion of patients to other facilities were unlawful, as medical diversion should only be implemented if there were no available beds or ventilators. She highlighted the hospital's 30% vacancy rate, largely in nursing and specialized units, and the absence of permanent executive leadership as contributing factors to the ongoing crisis.
The DA blamed outdated organizational plans, last updated over 20 years ago, for the staffing issues faced by Gauteng's public hospitals. Hicklin urged Premier Panyaza Lesufi to approve the updated plans, emphasizing that a DA-led government would prioritize preventative healthcare and support services, ensuring municipal clinics had all necessary medications, equipment, and professional staff.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
