Construction starts on hospital bunker

Image source www.thumela.org

The scanner was purchased last year but could not be used as it needed to be fitted in a concrete bunker for health and safety reasons.

As no scanner was available, patients with urgent cases were sent to Cape Town, while others simply had to wait.

The delay in building the bunker came about after a tender was awarded to a contractor with tax-related problems.

Health department spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said work had stalled after the department insisted the contractor get its tax affairs in order before construction could start.

Eventually the services of another contractor had to be engaged through emergency procurement measures.

Kupelo said a new contractor had been appointed and construction started on Wednesday.

"They have been advised of the urgency and will be working 24/7 to get it done," he said.

The hospital's old scanner broke down in January and technicians said it could no longer be fixed as parts for it were no longer available.

Source: Herald