Doctors abandon patients to drink during working hours

JUNIOR doctors at Mpilo Central Hospital have been abandoning patients to drink during working hours at the Doctors Quarters (DQ) Bar located near the doctors residence at the institution, while waiters at the paediatric hospital have been eating food meant for patients.

Suspended operations director Mrs Regina Duduza Moyo last year requested that the bar be closed as "junior doctors reportedly abscond duty to go and drink at the bar". The bar was briefly closed. In an internal memo to then clinical director Dr Wedu Ndebele, Mrs Moyo revealed that even the police had raised concerns about the bar.

"As you are aware of the ZRP concerns about the doctor's bar at the Doctor's Quarters and the recommended closure, I am making a follow-up on the outcome of your meeting with the Hospital Doctors Association. I make this follow-up as I continue to receive reports from the security department as well as updates from ZRP on the same issue. Security reports show that the bar continues to operate beyond stipulated operating hours disturbing other residents' sleep. There are also concerns that some junior doctors reportedly abscond duty to go and drink to the detriment of the patients," wrote Mrs Moyo on 10 October 2014.

Some security officers who spoke to our reporter last week confirmed that some doctors sneak out of their work stations to go and drink alcohol while patients are left unattended. The bar opens officially from 11am to 10pm daily.

"The junior doctors leave patients and go to drink and smoke at DQ Bar, that is the reason why you find patients sitting for long hours especially in the casualty department and no doctors will be in sight. They will be at the bar having fun," said one security guard who refused to be named.

In addition, the Mpilo Hospital security department notified the hospital authorities that the bar operates beyond stipulated operating hours, disturbing other residents' sleep in the process. Cases of theft and break-ins, together with promiscuity have also been reported.

In another memo to Dr Ndebele, Mrs Moyo revealed that cases of food theft, especially in the paediatric hospital had been reported.

"There are reports in the wards, especially at the paediatric hospital, that waiters continue to eat patients' meals. I kindly remind you to strengthen monitoring the situation through the introduced registers, spot checks and patient interviews so that we put the situation under control," reads the memo in part.

The revelations come at a time when the welfare of patients is at stake as there are reports that there is a shortage of utensils such as cups, spoons and plates.

The acting CEO for the hospital, Mr Leonard Mabandi, said he was not aware of the happenings at DQ Bar.

"I am new here and I do not know about this bar and activities that happen there; I cannot comment on the issue blindly," he said.

A security detail said the bar should close as there were a lot of disturbances that were taking place there.

"Outsiders come here and it causes problems. Men and women from Mzilikazi, Barbourfields and Makokoba are also finding their way here so the situation becomes chaotic as they end up fighting making noise."

The Doctors Quarters Bar is a recreational facility that is meant for doctors to enjoy while they are not working.