THE sudden transfer of R6 million from the coffers of Cecilia Makiwane Hospital (CMH) – shortly before a "superbug" outbreak in January – could have cost 12 newborn babies their lives.

The lack of funds prevented the institution from buying the most basic items used in the fight to control infection.

The financial restrictions became so bad that before and during the outbreak the hospital did not even have toilet paper or soap for staff and mothers in the neo-natal ward.

This led to a Daily Dispatch investigation which revealed how killer superbugs devastated the ward at CMH in January because of its poor infection control measures.

Now a report – leaked to the Dispatch – shows that the much-needed R6m was transferred from the East London Hospital Complex (ELHC) to Frontier Hospital in Queenstown and St Elizabeth Hospital in Lusikisiki two months before the outbreak.

ELHC consists of Frere and CMH hospitals and is currently being "decomplexed".

Compiled by an internal provincial auditing team, the report states the "shifting" of funds prevented the hospital from providing "essential consumables" like gloves, toilet paper, soap, hand towels and sprays (see page 4).

"This adversely affected their (CMH) spending ability on consumables during November 2010, December 2010, January [2011] and February 2011," the report reads.

The report does not detail if the budgeted funds had already been allocated to the complex’s bank account and who was responsible for transferring the funds elsewhere.

The seven-page report – quoting former ELHC boss Vuyo Mosana – states the complex was not even "formally notified" of the transfer.

Speaking to the Dispatch yesterday, Mosana said it was "unethical" to comment on the report.

Mosana, currently unemployed as his contract was not renewed in May, said the department should answer all questions relating to the report.

By the end of January, 29 babies had died – more than double the average monthly mortality rate for infants at the institution.

Nearly half the deaths were attributed to nosocomial infection – in this case the deadly bacteria klebsiella . The figure represents one of the highest mortality rates for a hospital superbug outbreak in South Africa for the past five years.

However, with adequate infection control measures that include an ample stock of soap, gloves and other consumables, superbugs – a scourge of any hospital – can be controlled.

South African Medical Association Border spokesperson Dr Bjorn Uys said yesterday: "If you don’t have soap and toilet paper it is going to be difficult to fight infections."

He said most of the "basic items" needed were clearly not available to either hospital during the time of the baby deaths.

The report – again quoting Mosana – alleges that money was transferred from ELHC before in a similar manner. No specific date is given in the report. "Previously money was moved from the complex budget without our knowledge and I raised a complaint with the office of the CFO (chief financial officer) who was unable to explain how it happened," Mosana says in the report.

The leaked report blames "senior and executive management" for failing to "rectify" the out-of-stock situation at both CMH and Frere hospitals. It advises that a "preventative plan" be put in place to avoid critical stock shortages in future.

The provincial Health Department’s communications director Siyanda Manana said yesterday: "In some cases the shifting of money is done so that areas of need are attended to, especially addressing core matters relating to patient care."

He added that the shortage of equipment and consumables is "unacceptable" in health institutions because it compromises patient care.

Manana said: "Neonatal services in public hospital levels are funded at a far lower level than in the private sector – but we endeavour to provide good quality of care."

The spokesperson said the department had set up a plan with numerous elements to minimise future risks at all Eastern Cape hospitals.

Shortly after the outbreak in January, Dr Gerald Boon , the complex’s head of the neo-natal department serving the two hospitals, reported the outbreak to Mosana, highlighting his "very real concern and threat to the mortality and morbidity of newborns" at both hospitals.
In the document,also leaked to the Dispatch investigation the team discovered an equipment graveyard in a back room at Frere Hospital.Life-saving equipment such as incubators and ventilators were left broken and covered in dust. Acting CEo of the East London Hospital Complex Dr Kobus Kotze could not be
reached for comment.