Department of Health investigates stillbirth at Thelle Mogoerane Regional Hospital
Matshete said they would inform the hospital about their visit for psychological support.
The Gauteng Department of Health (DoH) admitted the lack of gowns at Thelle Mogoerane Regional Hospital caused a delay in helping a Vosloorus mother deliver her daughter before she died inside her womb on March 6.
This came after Princes Mtundu (26) and her husband, Martin Matshete (35) from Ext 25, lost their baby in what the couple alleged was negligence by the hospital doctors.
The hospital admitted Mtundu for a caesarean section (C-section) on May 2, but the doctor postponed her operation to May 5. She was still not assisted, and the doctor again postponed the C-section to May 8.
Her child died on May 6. Doctors extracted the body from her womb in the early hours of May 7.
Kathorus Mail asked if the DoH knew of the incident and the doctor’s reason for changing the initial date for Mtundu to deliver her child on April 20.
The spokesperson of TMRH, Joseph Monaheng, confirmed the DoH knew of the incident. He said the ante-natal ward was full, and the patient was for an elective C-section, not in labour.
Monaheng confirmed the baby died before birth, and the DoH was investigating it.
“This incident is being investigated and has not yet been finalized. However, the cause of death will be known once the histology results are out,” said Monaheng.
“It is true that the hospital has a limited number of gowns which led to a delay in starting operations that day.”
He said they offered psychological support, but the husband refused. While the wife agreed, she did not turn up for the session.
“Even after their absence for the previous session, June 27 in the morning, we called her to confirm her appointment with the clinical psychologist, but her phone was on voice mail. Then we called the husband, who promised to pass the message to his wife, but they did not show up.”
Matshete slammed claims that he refused to attend psychological counselling, citing they needed to get psychological support.
“I received their call, but l did not refuse to attend the session. l agreed and passed the message to my wife, but we could not attend because we are in Oliven,” said Matshete.
“I was about to email them to say we did not manage to come because we are far and waiting for a salary so we have transport expenses.”
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