Tembisa Hospital continues to operate fully despite a fire that broke out in its accident and emergency unit on Saturday afternoon.
Fortunately, there were no injuries, as all patients in the affected ward were either evacuated or relocated to other sections of the hospital before the fire spread.
While emergency cases will still be attended to, the emergency unit itself will remain closed until further notice. Residents of Tembisa are advised to make use of nearby clinics for medical needs during this period, and emergency services have been instructed to direct patients to alternative healthcare facilities.
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At the time of the fire, 81 individuals were in the emergency unit. Among them, two were moved to the ICU, one to high care, and four were discharged. Seventeen patients were transferred to other hospitals, including Charlotte Maxeke, Edenvale, Steve Biko, and Tshwane District. Fifty were accommodated in the hospital’s antenatal unit, while seven left the hospital on their own upon seeing the fire.
The emergency unit had recently undergone renovations and reportedly met all required health and safety standards. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.
