The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health wishes to urge the people of the province to keep in regular contact with hospitals and relatives admitted in the department’s hospital care. This call follows the high occupancy in wards as a result of patients not being collected on discharge and a number of unidentified persons remaining in hospitals without any of relatives coming forward.
This challenge has also led to two recent cases where patients, who were in the care of our public hospitals, are now untraceable. The most recent case happened at Northdale Hospital where a male patient absconded from care. The relatives, on coming to this hospital, were informed that the patient absconded without notifying the hospital care givers or the next of kin.
According to our records; Mr Henry Ndlovu was referred from Mpophomeni clinic and admitted at Northdale hospital on 17 February 2010. He is a 37 year old male of slim and fit built, with fair complexion, had short hair and was last seen wearing hospital pyjamas. He needs urgent medical attention and we urge the public to notify the police or call our toll-free number at 0800 005 133 if they know of his where about.
The department is currently working with the police and the family to trace for this patient.
“A new vision of sustainable better health has emerged, with deeper connections between social protection and better health results, whether in prevention or curative health. These have complementary relations with healthcare delivery.
“It is on this basis that we urge relatives to be in constant contact with our hospitals to get updates on how a patient is responding to treatment and care provided. This will also build bridges that appear when such unfortunate incidents, of patients absconding from care, occur” says the Head of Department, Dr Sibongile Zungu.
Issued by: Department of Health, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
11 March 2010
Source: Department of Health, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
(http://www.kznhealth.gov.za/)
