MEC Sambatha appalled by gross patient neglect, demands immediate action!
The North West Health MEC Madoda Sambatha and the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Health and Social Development, Honorable Priscilla Williams yesterday, Thursday, 29 August visited the Mahikeng Provincial Hospital to follow up on recent patient complaints and establish facts around a case of a new born who was placed in a warmer only to discover later badly burned in the body after an hour. They were accompanied by the Chairperson of the Mahikeng Provincial Hospital Board, Khumalo Molefe.
First the MEC received a complain from a patient who was mistreated by the nursing staff at the Provincial Hospital. Instead of providing the medical assistance to the patient, the nurses started labeling the patient as MEC's patient. Shockingly the MEC learnt that no action was taken by the hospital management against the nurses involved despite having reported the complaint to the management.
In another shocking incident by the Provincial Hospital an administration clerk is reported to have instructed patients to go back home without being seen by a doctor or even a nurse. Even on this one, no action was taken against the administration clerk. On this one the MEC has instructed action to be taken against managers failed to discipline the admin officer.
The case of a new born who was placed in a warmer only to discover later badly burned in the body after an hour has left MEC with no choice but to demand drastic actions.
"It is unacceptable that our people are subjected to this kind of treatment. We have been entrusted with taking care of the lives of our people and the most vulnerable members of our society. It is shocking that some of our health professionals are careless about the lives of our people in the Mahikeng Provincial Hospital. Such people must face consequences for negligence of their duties and patients. I am determined to restore a sense of service in this hospital and anyone who neglect the call for service must be ready to face serious actions", said MEC Sambatha.
Earlier on Thursday, following intervention by the MEC, the hospital had taken the baby and the mother to Pretoria to seek a specialized service at a Private facility. Unfortunately, the baby passed on en-route to a private facility.
MEC Sambatha sends condolences to the mother and her family and wish to assure them of actions against those found to have neglected their duties thus placing the life of a new born at risk.
Enquiries:
Tebogo Lekgethwane - Spokesperson to North West Department of Health
Cell: 082 929 9958
