Kalafong Hospital
28 February 2006
The Gauteng Health Department disputes reports that 75% of patients with
severe head injuries die at Kalafong Hospital because the hospital is not
equipped to treat them.
Statistics kept by the Hospital indicate that in February the Hospital
admitted seven patients with severe head injuries and only one died. In
December, a month normally associated with high accident rates, the hospital
saw eight patients with head injuries and again only one died.
All patients brought to the hospital by emergency services are attended to,
stabilised and where necessary referred to Pretoria Academic Hospital to be
seen by neurosurgeons.
Neurosurgery is a specialist service that is provided only in tertiary
hospitals. As a regional hospital, Kalafong Hospital does not provide this
service.
The Hospital is under obligation not to turn away patients. All patients
brought to the Hospital have to be seen by a doctor before being referred for
specialist treatment where this is warranted.
The allegations against the Hospital must be rejected because they are not
substantiated by facts.
Enquiries:
Simon Zwane
Tel: (011) 355 3543
Cell: 083 785 5415
Issued by: Department of Health, Gauteng Provincial Government
28 February 2006
Source: SAPA
