Durban - Health MEC, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, denied Stanger Hospital was a “butchery”, but said four nurses had been suspended after the death of two maternity patients.
The four had been suspended on allegations of negligence, he said.
Dhlomo, addressing the media after a closed meeting with hospital management and staff, said he could not say much because an investigation was still under way.
“I cannot prejudice what is going to happen to them. I have spoken to staff to get the feel of the situation. I also want to allay fears that if you come to this hospital, you are going to die: it is not true,” Dhlomo stressed.
Dhlomo said while investigations continued, challenges at the hospital must not deter prospective patients.
“We don’t want to hide anything if there could’ve been a mistake or any issue that was done unintentionally or intentionally to any of our patients. The reason why I intervened was because I received complaints from people on the issue. We are yet to get a full report,” he said.
The suspensions follow reports of the death of a 30-old-woman who allegedly fell violently ill after her bowel was accidentally punctured during a Caesarean section delivery.
Another woman is reported to have died after giving birth in a toilet at the hospital late last year.
Dhlomo claimed the hospital was among the few in the province to have a milk-bank, part of the breastfeeding support.
On Friday, Dhlomo visited the hospital on a “fact-finding mission” and tasked the deputy director-general of the KZN Department of Health, Mfowethu Zungu, with leading an investigation into the state of affairs at the hospital.
Meanwhile, DA MPL, Imraan Keeka, blasted Dhlomo for his failure to react quickly when the party raised concerns after serious claims emanated from the hospital in June last year.
Keeka said Dhlomo’s apathy had forced the DA to forward a string of allegations, including malpractice, to the provincial health ombudsman during the latter part of last year.
“We are yet to receive formal confirmation of whether these critical matters are mere allegations or indeed fact.
“It also appears the MEC is seeking to emerge as the saviour of Stanger Hospital. Had the MEC paid any attention to earlier correspondence from the DA, he would not have had to learn of the ongoing crises at this hospital through the media. More importantly, his actions might have saved lives,” Keeka said.
Daily News