Cape Town - The Provincial Department of Health will meet with the Appollis family in the next two weeks to discuss the outcomes of the investigation into the way Blanche Appollis was treated at the Mitchells Plain District Hospital.
Appollis was admitted to the hospital on May 24 and her daughter, Lee-Anne van Rensburg, says her mother was humiliated by the treatment she received from the porters and nursing staff. She died on May 26.
According to the family, and people who have shared their stories with the Cape Times and on social media, patients have to sit for many hours, sometimes for up to two days, before being attended to.
The family lodged complaints with the hospital but did not receive a response until the story was published. MEC for Health Nomafrench Mbombo requested an investigation, but the hospital had already done so.
On Monday, provincial health department spokesperson Marika Champion said their investigation had included CCTV footage and interviews with patients and staff who had been at the hospital at the same time as Appollis. Champion said they would first meet with the family before releasing the report.
Champion said hospitals have various internal measures in place to ensure optimum patient flow. “But during busy peak times, high volumes of patients and many emergency cases can lead to long waiting times,” Champion said.
“Health facilities across the country are under severe pressure due to the increasing number of people who rely on the public health system. Mitchells Plain Hospital is one such facility that experiences high occupancy rates, especially the Emergency Centre,” she said.
The department has introduced a culture change management programme aimed at driving values-based behaviour.
“Boosting staff morale is a key priority for the department, which needs to build staff resilience amidst a tough and stressful environment.
“However, where staff negligence due to a callous attitude is confirmed, the staff members in question will be dealt with according to the disciplinary code of the department,” Champion said.
According to Champion, further steps are being put in place to strengthen the complaints management system generally, including specific allocation of responsibilities to engage better with complaints.
Mbombo is also setting up an Independent Health Complaints Committee, which is aimed at keeping the health-care service accountable.
People can lodge complaints with facility managers or contact the complaints hotline by e-mail at [email protected], by calling 0860 142 142, or by sending a “Please Call Me” to 079 769 1207.
Cape Times