Cape Town - The family of a teenager who was raped allegedly by a fellow patient in a psychiatric ward at Stellenbosch Hospital has expressed disappointment that no one has formally communicated the findings of a probe into the matter.
According to the family spokesperson and community activist, Bianca Booysen, they learnt through the media that the provincial Department of Health received a Public Service Commission (PSC) report with recommendations earlier this year.
Booysen said despite the family being “left out in the cold” no one has also been held accountable.
In September last year, it emerged that a 15-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a 19-year-old male patient at the hospital.
The facility was accused of negligence.
PSC commissioner Leonardo Goosen briefed the standing committee in the premier and constitutional matters on Friday about the findings of their investigation and recommendations.
This includes how the hospital authorities and medical staff failed to report the alleged rape to the police, despite the doctors having discussed the process with each other on September 23 and 24, 2021.
This was apparently due to the urgency of reporting the matter to the police “over the long weekend” was not immediate as there was no “imminent threat” to the patient’s safety.
“Due to the nature of the allegations being very serious I initiated our own investigation which led to a number of findings. It is clear that the patient was indeed admitted to the hospital under the Mental Health Care Act. The allegation that the incident was not immediately reported to SAPS on the part of the hospital in terms of the legislation was confirmed. It was also alarming that one of the medical sisters (nurse) was left alone at the time with health patients. A criminal act happened. The hospital also failed to administer a rape kit, the protocols were not implemented. More importantly the hospital is not designed effectively to allow full and constant observation of patients for nurses” said Goosen.
The report also found that the girl's parents were contacted only 48 hours after the incident and the manager of medical services (MMS) was also informed 26 hours later.
Goosen said part of the recommendations called for were “corrective action” to be taken against three doctors including the hospital head.
“We also requested the matter of the design which includes that there be separate male and female bathrooms because there was one,” he said.
Booysen said they have been unhappy about the way the matter has been handled since day one.
“We have not seen the findings or called by the department to detail what actions have been taken.
“The same staff that should have faced some sort of consequences nothing happened. Everyone is carrying on with their lives as if nothing happened. The family has been failed and the girl's life changed forever. Her mental condition has deteriorated due to the incident. She is aggressive now. The hospital never apologised about how they handled the matter. The silence and no accountability is heartbreaking and disgusting.”
Provincial Health and Wellness Department spokesperson Mark van der Heever said the department has acted on the PSC’s report.
“Disciplinary measures were taken against the staff identified in the report. The nursing station was moved to the corridor. It now has a view over all the rooms in the Ward.
“A security guard has been stationed in the corridor of the ward.
“Toilets for men and women were separated. A schedule is in place which dictates the hours when the shower room can be used by men, and different times for use by women. Access to the bathroom is closely monitored and controlled by staff. Separate areas for male and female rooms will be addressed as part of the planned Mental Health Unit. This infrastructure project will start soon,” said Van der Heever.
Cape Times