KZN Health calls for St Augustine’s Hospital patients to come forward
Three of the hosptial's patients have died from the coronavirus.
THE KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health has issued an urgent appeal to all patients who were admitted at Netcare St Augustine from 1 March 2020 to contact it.
This comes after 11 healthcare workers tested positive for Covid-19 at the hospital.
“As part of intensifying the contact tracing and testing process, MEC (for Health) Simelane-Zulu has also requested that Netcare avails a list of its patients that were exposed to the hospital as from the beginning of March,” said Dr Zweli Mkhize, Minister of Health.
Operations at St Augustine’s Hospital have been halted indefinitely and the hospital is no longer accepting new patients.
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Three people have died at the hospital from the coronavirus.
“We convey our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased. We also thank the doctors, health workers and staff of this hospital for their commitment to serve even during these difficult times,” said Mkhize.
A reader who got in touch with Berea Mail said she had been trying to no avail to contact the hospital after reading the story on the Berea Mail website.
“I am very concerned as my father-in-law, who lives with my husband and I was admitted to said hospital on 19 March. He was taken by ambulance to trauma and then placed into Medical Ward 2 a few hours after that. He was discharged on 25 March,” she said.
Patients can contact the KZN Dept of Health 24-hour Coronavirus hotline on: 033 846 600 / mandla.duma@kznhealth.gov.za
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