Patients help new Durban mom deliver premature baby

WHAT was meant to be the most beautiful moment for a Clermont woman turned out to be a nightmare when she had to give birth with help from other patients.

Her baby, who was born prematurely at six months, died eight hours after she gave birth.

The first-time mother claimed that the staff who were working the night shift on Friday, 14 February at St Mary’s Hospital, Mariannhill, ignored her many pleas for help.

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Thulisile Khanyile said she went for her regular check-up at Kloof Clinic on Wednesday as her second home is in Kloof.

“When I got there they noticed blood in my urine, I was then referred to St Mary’s Hospital.

“A doctor checked me and the baby was fine. I was given pills to help stop the bleeding. The next day I felt pain in my abdomen and when the pains were getting severe I was taken back to St Mary’s.”

Khanyile said she was attended to very quickly in the casualty department.

“A doctor checked me again and called a gynaecologist as I was in labour. I was then admitted and given an injection for my pain.”

The 29-year-old told the Highway Mail that her stay at the hospital was comfortable up until the Friday day shift staff left.

“At about 10.30pm, the pains started again. I went to the nurses who were sitting in an office to ask for help and they told me to go back to my bed and put my legs straight.

“The pains were becoming uncontrollable so I went back to them again and they told me the same thing. I felt like something was going to come out and I also needed to use the toilet. When I asked them if it was safe to go to the restroom, I was told to do whatever I felt like doing. I must just call them when the baby comes out,” said a distraught Khanyile.

Khanyile said she has never given birth before so she did not know what to expect.

“At 3.40am, my water broke. There were eight other patients in the ward and they had to assist me. The nurses were called but still ignored me. I could hear and feel the baby moving on the bed but the nurses only arrived after 45 minutes to cut the umbilical cord,” said a devastated Khanyile.

Khanyile’s baby survived for only eight hours.

“I do not blame the hospital for her passing as my baby was not developed fully and the doctors did everything they could to help her.

“I just want to expose those nurses for their attitude. How can you treat a patient like that? The worst part is the staff that was working day shift told the nurses they should give me an injection should I feel any pain,” she said.

Department of Health spokesperson, Noluthando Nkosi said, “The MEC is deeply disturbed by these allegations and views the alleged incident not only as a serious one, but one that warrants immediate stringent action.

“What is alleged to have happened goes against what this administration stands for, which is respect for patients and the prioritisation of their needs.”

Nkosi said the district director and CEO of the hospital have been instructed to urgently gather facts surrounding this matter and provide both the HoD and the MEC with a full report, after which the necessary action will be taken.

“Without prejudice, the MEC has previously made it clear that there is no place in the department for anyone who mistreats patients or fails to discharge their duties in line with established norms and standards,” she said.

UPDATE: Two nurses at the hospital has since been suspended.

Please read the update here: St Mary’s nurses suspended for ignoring pregnant patient’s pleas

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